Continuing Success of Females Towards Management Levels in Project Management in the Construction Industry

Over the past decade the construction industry and further the project management sector has been predominantly male oriented. This gender disproportion has decreased over time globally but remains stagnant in South Africa. The way we work, how we define and express ourselves reflects the formal workplace based representation of the individual within their work environment. It further shapes the goals and aims of the person. In order to reflect these aims and goals identity work at work and at home, operating through a negotiation process can be identified as an action-based solution. The process allows for individual based barriers to be identified and solutions formed through identity work strategies. This input-output process allows for tailored solutions that individuals use on a daily basis at home and at work. In order to gain a better understanding of one’s workplace, a consideration of the individual’s role within the organisation, in relation to their internal and external co-workers needs to be identified and used for self-regulation. Regulation relates to the identification, analysis and regulating of ones identity/work identity in order to better ones current and future state. Conceptual models are formed through the input-output process of barrier vs strategy. Qualitative data collected is used to gauge the applicability from theory-based strategy to practice in South Africa. A goal-based conceptual model is recommended for analysing individual barriers and thus regulating their identity in the practical project management environment within the construction industry.