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Beyond the Glass Cliff: A Scoping Review of the Influencing Factors of Glass Cliff

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 2069 - 2084, 31.05.2022
https://doi.org/10.29023/alanyaakademik.1008496

Abstract

Glass ceiling syndrome is the exposure of women to some inequalities while climbing the career ladders. It is an invisible barrier above the women that prevents them from being promoted. Women who achieve to break the glass ceiling get the leadership positions but it is possible for them to face to a new adventure called glass cliff. Glass cliff is the appointment of women to more risky, problematic or unstable leadership positions compared to men. These deliberate promotions, which can cause loss of prestige and an image of failure, are generally not rejected as they are still an opportunity for women. The aim of this study is to reveal the influencing factors of glass cliff. Within the framework of this purpose, a scoping review was carried out. In this review, papers on glass cliff indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases between 2000-2021 are examined. The results of the study revealed that there are five factors that are commonly referred in reviewed articles. These factors are; stereotypes of leadership and gender, company performance, need for change, leadership ability and leadership suitability.

References

  • Adams, R., & Funk, P. (2012). "Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Does Gender Matter?". Management Science, 58(2), s. 219-235.
  • Akçiğit, U., & Özcan-Tok, E. (2020). Türkiye Bilim Raporu. Ankara.
  • Arksey, H., & O'Malley , L. (2005). "Scoping Studies: towards a Methodological Framework". International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), s. 19-32.
  • Bertrand, M. (2018). Coase Lecture – The Glass Ceiling. Economica, 85, s. 05–231.
  • Bruckmuller, S., Ryan, M. K., Rink, F., & Haslam, S. A. (2014)." Beyond the Glass Ceiling: The Glass Cliff and Its Lessons for Organizational Policy". Social Issues and Policy Review, 8(1), s. 202-232.
  • Bruckmüller, S., & Branscombe, N. R. (2010). "The Glass Cliff: When And Why Women are Selectedas Leaders In Crisis Contexts". British Journal of Social Psychology, 49, s. 433–451.
  • Chambers, K. (2011). "The Glass Cliff: The Contribution of Social Identity and Gender Stereotypes in Predicting Leadership Preference and Trust". Degree of Master. Ottawa: Carleton University.
  • Cohen, J. R., Dalton, D. W., Holder, L. L., & McMillan, J. J. (2020). "An Analysis of Glass Ceiling Perceptions in the Accounting Profession". Journal of Business Ethics (, 164, s. 17–38 .
  • Cotter, D., Hermsen, J. M., Ovadia, S., & Vanneman, R. (2001). "The Glass Ceiling Effect". Social Forces, 80(2), s. 655–681.
  • Darouei, M., & Pluut, H. (2018). "The Paradox Of Being on the Glass Cliff: Why Do Women Accept Risky Leadership Positions?". Career Development International, 23(4), s. 397-426.
  • Eagly, A. H. (2007). "Female Leadership Advantage and Disadvantage: Resolving the Contradictions". Psychology of Women Quarterly, 31, s. 1-12.
  • Fernandez, R. M., & Campero, S. (2017). "Gender Sorting and the Glass Ceiling in High-Tech Firms". ILR Review, 70(1), s. 73-104.
  • Glass, C., & Cook, A. (2016). "Leading at the Top: Understanding Women's Challenges above the Glass Ceiling". The Leadership Quarterly, 27(1), s. 51-63.
  • Groeneveld, S., Bakker, V., & Schmidt, E. (2020)." Breaking the Glass Ceiling, but Facing a Glass Cliff? The Role of Organizational Decline in Women's Representation in Leadership Positions in Dutch Civil Service Organizations". Public Administration, 98, s. 441–464.
  • Harford, J. (2020). "The Path to Professorship: Reflections from Women Professors in Ireland". Irish Educational Studies, 39(2), s. 193-204. Haslam, S. A., & Ryan, M. K. (2008). "The Road to the Glass Cliff: Differences in the Perceived Suitability of Men And Women for Leadership Positions in Succeeding And Failing Organizations". The Leadership Quarterly, 19, s. 530-546.
  • Haslam, S. A., Ryan, M. K., Kulich, C., Trojanowski, G., & Atkins, C. (2010). "Investing with Prejudice: The Relationship Between Women’s Presence on Company Boards and Objective and Subjective Measures of Company Performance". British Journal of Management, 21, s. 484–497.
  • Hymowitz, C., & Schellhardt, T. D. (1986). "The Glass Ceiling: Why Women Can’t Seem to Break the Invisible Barrier that Blocks Them from the Top Jobs". The Wall Street Journal.
  • Javadi, D., Vega, J., Etienne, C., Wandira, S., Doyle , Y., & Nishtar, S. (2016). "Women Who Lead: Successes and Challenges of Five Health Leaders". Health Systems& Reform, 2(3), s. 229–240.
  • Kulich, C., Lorenzi-Cioldi, F., Iacoviello, V., Faniko, K., & Ryan, M. R. (2015). "Signaling Change During a Crisis: Refining Conditions for the Glass Cliff.". 61, s. 96-103.
  • Main, B. G., & Gregory-Smith, I. (2018). "Symbolic Management and the Glass Cliff: Evidence from the Boardroom Careers of Female and Male Directors". British Journal of Management, 29, s. 136–155.
  • Morgenroth, T., Kirby, T. A., Ryan, M. K., & Sudkämper, A. (2020). "The Who, When, And Why Of The Glass Cliff Phenomenon: A Meta-Analysis of Appointments to Precarious Leadership Positions". Psychological Bulletin, s. 1-100.
  • Morrison, A. M., White, R. P., & Velsor, E. V. (1987). "The Narrow Band". Leadership in Action. 7(2), s. 1-7.
  • Mousa, M., Boyle, J., Skouteris, H., Mullin, A. K., Currie, G., Riach, K., & Teede, H. J. (2021). "Healthcare Leadership: A Systematic Review Andmeta-Synthesis of Multi-Sector Evidence on Organisational Interventions"". EClinicalMedicine, s. 43-51.
  • Mythili, N. (2019). "Legitimisation of Women School Leaders in India. Contemporary Education Dialogue", 16(1), s. 54–83.
  • O’Neil, M. L., Aldanmaz , B., Quirant Quiles, R. M., Rose, N., Altuntaş , D., & Tekmen, H. (2019). Türkiye’de Yükseköğretimdeki Cinsiyet Eşit(siz)liği. İstanbul: Kadir Has Üniversitesi.
  • Obenauer, W. G., & Langer, N. (2019)." Inclusion is not a Slam Dunk: A Study of Differential Leadership Outcomes in the Absence of a Glass Cliff". The Leadership Quarterly, 30, s. 1-17.
  • Rink, F., Ryan, M. K., & Stoker, J. I. (2013). "Social Resources at a Time Of Crisis: How Gender Stereotypes Affect the Evaluation Of Leaders in Glass Cliff Positions?". European Journal of Social Psychology, 43, s. 381-392.
  • Ryan, M. K., & Haslam, A. S. (2007). "The Glass Cliff: Exploring the Dynamics Surrounding the Appointment of Women to Precarious Leadership Positions". The Academy of Management Review, 32(2), s. 549-572.
  • Ryan, M. K., & Haslam, S. A. (2005). "The Glass Cliff: Evidence that Women are Over-Represented in Precarious Leadership Positions". British Journal of Management, 16, s. 81-90.
  • Ryan, M. K., Haslam, S. A., Morgenroth , T., Rink, F., Stoker, J., & Peters, K. (2016)." Getting on Top of the Glass Cliff: Reviewing a Decade of Evidence, Explanations, and Impact". The Leadership Quarterly, 27, s. 446-455.
  • Ryan, M. K., Haslam, S. A., Morgenroth, T., Rink, F., Stoker, J., & Peters, K. (2016). "Getting on Top of the Glass Cliff: Reviewing a Decade of Evidence,Explanations, and Impact". The Leadership Quarterly, 27, s. 446-425.
  • Sabharwal, M. (2015). "From Glass Ceiling to Glass Cliff: Women in Senior Executive Service". Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 25(2), s. 399-426.
  • Saleem, S., Rafiq,, A., & Yusaf, S. (2017). Investigating the Glass Ceiling Phenomenon: An Empirical Study of Glass Ceiling’s Effects on Selection-Promotion and Female Effectiveness. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 6(3).
  • Santen, B., & Donker, H. (2009). "Board Diversity in the Perspective Of Financial Distress: Empirical Evidence From the Netherlands". Corporate Board: Role, Duties & Composition, 5(2), s. 23-35.
  • Saridakis, G., Ferreira, P., Mohammed, A.-M., & Marlow, S. (2021). "The Relationship Between Gender and Promotion Over the Business Cycle". British Journal of Management, s. 1-22.
  • Schein, V. E., Mueller, R., Lituchy, T., & Liu, J. (1996). "Think Manager—Think Male: A Global Phenomenon?". Journal of Organizational Behavior, 17(1), s. 33-41.
  • Smith, A. E. (2015). "On the Edge of a Glass Cliff: Women in Leadership in Public Organizations". Public Administration Quarterly, 39(3), s. 484-517.
  • Uyar, E. (2011). “The Glass Cliff: Differences in Perceived Suitability and Leadership Ability of Men and Women for Leadership Positions in High and Poor Performing Companies". The Degree of Master Business of Business Administration in The Department of Business. Ankara: Middle East Technical University.

Beyond the Glass Cliff: A Scoping Review of the Influencing Factors of Glass Cliff

Year 2022, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 2069 - 2084, 31.05.2022
https://doi.org/10.29023/alanyaakademik.1008496

Abstract

Glass ceiling syndrome is the exposure of women to some inequalities while climbing the career ladders. It is an invisible barrier above the women that prevents them from being promoted. Women who achieve to break the glass ceiling get the leadership positions but it is possible for them to face to a new adventure called glass cliff. Glass cliff is the appointment of women to more risky, problematic or unstable leadership positions compared to men. These deliberate promotions, which can cause loss of prestige and an image of failure, are generally not rejected as they are still an opportunity for women. The aim of this study is to reveal the influencing factors of glass cliff. Within the framework of this purpose, a scoping review was carried out. In this review, papers on glass cliff indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases between 2000-2021 are examined. The results of the study revealed that there are five factors that are commonly referred in reviewed articles. These factors are; stereotypes of leadership and gender, company performance, need for change, leadership ability and leadership suitability.

References

  • Adams, R., & Funk, P. (2012). "Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Does Gender Matter?". Management Science, 58(2), s. 219-235.
  • Akçiğit, U., & Özcan-Tok, E. (2020). Türkiye Bilim Raporu. Ankara.
  • Arksey, H., & O'Malley , L. (2005). "Scoping Studies: towards a Methodological Framework". International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), s. 19-32.
  • Bertrand, M. (2018). Coase Lecture – The Glass Ceiling. Economica, 85, s. 05–231.
  • Bruckmuller, S., Ryan, M. K., Rink, F., & Haslam, S. A. (2014)." Beyond the Glass Ceiling: The Glass Cliff and Its Lessons for Organizational Policy". Social Issues and Policy Review, 8(1), s. 202-232.
  • Bruckmüller, S., & Branscombe, N. R. (2010). "The Glass Cliff: When And Why Women are Selectedas Leaders In Crisis Contexts". British Journal of Social Psychology, 49, s. 433–451.
  • Chambers, K. (2011). "The Glass Cliff: The Contribution of Social Identity and Gender Stereotypes in Predicting Leadership Preference and Trust". Degree of Master. Ottawa: Carleton University.
  • Cohen, J. R., Dalton, D. W., Holder, L. L., & McMillan, J. J. (2020). "An Analysis of Glass Ceiling Perceptions in the Accounting Profession". Journal of Business Ethics (, 164, s. 17–38 .
  • Cotter, D., Hermsen, J. M., Ovadia, S., & Vanneman, R. (2001). "The Glass Ceiling Effect". Social Forces, 80(2), s. 655–681.
  • Darouei, M., & Pluut, H. (2018). "The Paradox Of Being on the Glass Cliff: Why Do Women Accept Risky Leadership Positions?". Career Development International, 23(4), s. 397-426.
  • Eagly, A. H. (2007). "Female Leadership Advantage and Disadvantage: Resolving the Contradictions". Psychology of Women Quarterly, 31, s. 1-12.
  • Fernandez, R. M., & Campero, S. (2017). "Gender Sorting and the Glass Ceiling in High-Tech Firms". ILR Review, 70(1), s. 73-104.
  • Glass, C., & Cook, A. (2016). "Leading at the Top: Understanding Women's Challenges above the Glass Ceiling". The Leadership Quarterly, 27(1), s. 51-63.
  • Groeneveld, S., Bakker, V., & Schmidt, E. (2020)." Breaking the Glass Ceiling, but Facing a Glass Cliff? The Role of Organizational Decline in Women's Representation in Leadership Positions in Dutch Civil Service Organizations". Public Administration, 98, s. 441–464.
  • Harford, J. (2020). "The Path to Professorship: Reflections from Women Professors in Ireland". Irish Educational Studies, 39(2), s. 193-204. Haslam, S. A., & Ryan, M. K. (2008). "The Road to the Glass Cliff: Differences in the Perceived Suitability of Men And Women for Leadership Positions in Succeeding And Failing Organizations". The Leadership Quarterly, 19, s. 530-546.
  • Haslam, S. A., Ryan, M. K., Kulich, C., Trojanowski, G., & Atkins, C. (2010). "Investing with Prejudice: The Relationship Between Women’s Presence on Company Boards and Objective and Subjective Measures of Company Performance". British Journal of Management, 21, s. 484–497.
  • Hymowitz, C., & Schellhardt, T. D. (1986). "The Glass Ceiling: Why Women Can’t Seem to Break the Invisible Barrier that Blocks Them from the Top Jobs". The Wall Street Journal.
  • Javadi, D., Vega, J., Etienne, C., Wandira, S., Doyle , Y., & Nishtar, S. (2016). "Women Who Lead: Successes and Challenges of Five Health Leaders". Health Systems& Reform, 2(3), s. 229–240.
  • Kulich, C., Lorenzi-Cioldi, F., Iacoviello, V., Faniko, K., & Ryan, M. R. (2015). "Signaling Change During a Crisis: Refining Conditions for the Glass Cliff.". 61, s. 96-103.
  • Main, B. G., & Gregory-Smith, I. (2018). "Symbolic Management and the Glass Cliff: Evidence from the Boardroom Careers of Female and Male Directors". British Journal of Management, 29, s. 136–155.
  • Morgenroth, T., Kirby, T. A., Ryan, M. K., & Sudkämper, A. (2020). "The Who, When, And Why Of The Glass Cliff Phenomenon: A Meta-Analysis of Appointments to Precarious Leadership Positions". Psychological Bulletin, s. 1-100.
  • Morrison, A. M., White, R. P., & Velsor, E. V. (1987). "The Narrow Band". Leadership in Action. 7(2), s. 1-7.
  • Mousa, M., Boyle, J., Skouteris, H., Mullin, A. K., Currie, G., Riach, K., & Teede, H. J. (2021). "Healthcare Leadership: A Systematic Review Andmeta-Synthesis of Multi-Sector Evidence on Organisational Interventions"". EClinicalMedicine, s. 43-51.
  • Mythili, N. (2019). "Legitimisation of Women School Leaders in India. Contemporary Education Dialogue", 16(1), s. 54–83.
  • O’Neil, M. L., Aldanmaz , B., Quirant Quiles, R. M., Rose, N., Altuntaş , D., & Tekmen, H. (2019). Türkiye’de Yükseköğretimdeki Cinsiyet Eşit(siz)liği. İstanbul: Kadir Has Üniversitesi.
  • Obenauer, W. G., & Langer, N. (2019)." Inclusion is not a Slam Dunk: A Study of Differential Leadership Outcomes in the Absence of a Glass Cliff". The Leadership Quarterly, 30, s. 1-17.
  • Rink, F., Ryan, M. K., & Stoker, J. I. (2013). "Social Resources at a Time Of Crisis: How Gender Stereotypes Affect the Evaluation Of Leaders in Glass Cliff Positions?". European Journal of Social Psychology, 43, s. 381-392.
  • Ryan, M. K., & Haslam, A. S. (2007). "The Glass Cliff: Exploring the Dynamics Surrounding the Appointment of Women to Precarious Leadership Positions". The Academy of Management Review, 32(2), s. 549-572.
  • Ryan, M. K., & Haslam, S. A. (2005). "The Glass Cliff: Evidence that Women are Over-Represented in Precarious Leadership Positions". British Journal of Management, 16, s. 81-90.
  • Ryan, M. K., Haslam, S. A., Morgenroth , T., Rink, F., Stoker, J., & Peters, K. (2016)." Getting on Top of the Glass Cliff: Reviewing a Decade of Evidence, Explanations, and Impact". The Leadership Quarterly, 27, s. 446-455.
  • Ryan, M. K., Haslam, S. A., Morgenroth, T., Rink, F., Stoker, J., & Peters, K. (2016). "Getting on Top of the Glass Cliff: Reviewing a Decade of Evidence,Explanations, and Impact". The Leadership Quarterly, 27, s. 446-425.
  • Sabharwal, M. (2015). "From Glass Ceiling to Glass Cliff: Women in Senior Executive Service". Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 25(2), s. 399-426.
  • Saleem, S., Rafiq,, A., & Yusaf, S. (2017). Investigating the Glass Ceiling Phenomenon: An Empirical Study of Glass Ceiling’s Effects on Selection-Promotion and Female Effectiveness. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 6(3).
  • Santen, B., & Donker, H. (2009). "Board Diversity in the Perspective Of Financial Distress: Empirical Evidence From the Netherlands". Corporate Board: Role, Duties & Composition, 5(2), s. 23-35.
  • Saridakis, G., Ferreira, P., Mohammed, A.-M., & Marlow, S. (2021). "The Relationship Between Gender and Promotion Over the Business Cycle". British Journal of Management, s. 1-22.
  • Schein, V. E., Mueller, R., Lituchy, T., & Liu, J. (1996). "Think Manager—Think Male: A Global Phenomenon?". Journal of Organizational Behavior, 17(1), s. 33-41.
  • Smith, A. E. (2015). "On the Edge of a Glass Cliff: Women in Leadership in Public Organizations". Public Administration Quarterly, 39(3), s. 484-517.
  • Uyar, E. (2011). “The Glass Cliff: Differences in Perceived Suitability and Leadership Ability of Men and Women for Leadership Positions in High and Poor Performing Companies". The Degree of Master Business of Business Administration in The Department of Business. Ankara: Middle East Technical University.
There are 38 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Operation
Journal Section Makaleler
Authors

Emine Karakaplan Özer 0000-0003-0710-8850

Publication Date May 31, 2022
Acceptance Date March 21, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 6 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Karakaplan Özer, E. (2022). Beyond the Glass Cliff: A Scoping Review of the Influencing Factors of Glass Cliff. Alanya Akademik Bakış, 6(2), 2069-2084. https://doi.org/10.29023/alanyaakademik.1008496