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Striving for Success: A Grounded Theory Study of High-Performing Women in the Swedish Workplace

Wolontis, Felicia LU (2016) PSYP01 20161
Department of Psychology
Abstract
The aim of this empirical study was to find out which characteristics, behaviors, and drives high-performing women have in common in order to illuminate why they have become successful in their work. The aim also included getting insights into some of the challenges that these women meet. Participants were fifteen high-performing women who work in business and academia in Sweden. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with each of the participants, and grounded theory methodology was used to generate an empirically based core category and associated subcategories of significant qualities that characterize the participants. It was found that the women in the study have adopted a kind of superwoman persona that is made up of six... (More)
The aim of this empirical study was to find out which characteristics, behaviors, and drives high-performing women have in common in order to illuminate why they have become successful in their work. The aim also included getting insights into some of the challenges that these women meet. Participants were fifteen high-performing women who work in business and academia in Sweden. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with each of the participants, and grounded theory methodology was used to generate an empirically based core category and associated subcategories of significant qualities that characterize the participants. It was found that the women in the study have adopted a kind of superwoman persona that is made up of six major qualities that have enabled the women to become successful in their work: 1) they carry out work their own way by engaging in job crafting, 2) they believe in themselves, 3) they are good girls, 4) they have grit, ambition, and determination, 5) they go the extra mile in their work due to that they are personally engaged in what they do, and 6) they make things happen by displaying proactive work behavior. It is presented how the empirical findings support, and contribute with new knowledge to, the existing research literature, and implications for both research and practice are discussed. The various costs of being a high-performing woman are also taken into consideration. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wolontis, Felicia LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYP01 20161
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
high performance, success, grounded theory, interviews, superwoman, job crafting, self-confidence, good girl, perfectionism, grit, work engagement, proactive work behavior
language
English
id
8879002
date added to LUP
2016-06-09 10:54:44
date last changed
2016-06-09 10:54:44
@misc{8879002,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this empirical study was to find out which characteristics, behaviors, and drives high-performing women have in common in order to illuminate why they have become successful in their work. The aim also included getting insights into some of the challenges that these women meet. Participants were fifteen high-performing women who work in business and academia in Sweden. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with each of the participants, and grounded theory methodology was used to generate an empirically based core category and associated subcategories of significant qualities that characterize the participants. It was found that the women in the study have adopted a kind of superwoman persona that is made up of six major qualities that have enabled the women to become successful in their work: 1) they carry out work their own way by engaging in job crafting, 2) they believe in themselves, 3) they are good girls, 4) they have grit, ambition, and determination, 5) they go the extra mile in their work due to that they are personally engaged in what they do, and 6) they make things happen by displaying proactive work behavior. It is presented how the empirical findings support, and contribute with new knowledge to, the existing research literature, and implications for both research and practice are discussed. The various costs of being a high-performing woman are also taken into consideration.}},
  author       = {{Wolontis, Felicia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Striving for Success: A Grounded Theory Study of High-Performing Women in the Swedish Workplace}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}