| Author: | Dong, Liyang |
| Title: | An exploratory study on the internal and external support of post-80s female leaders in the hotel industry in China |
| Advisors: | Kucukusta, Deniz (SHTM) Guillet, Basak Denizci (SHTM) |
| Degree: | DHTM |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Department: | School of Hotel and Tourism Management |
| Pages: | ix, 243 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | This dissertation understood the meaning of 'success' from the perspective of post-80s female leaders in China's hotel industry and then emphasized internal and external support from proactive aspects. The qualitative methods was conducted, including narrative analysis and in-depth interviews. Interviews were conducted with 15 qualified female who were born after 1980 (when the One Child Policy was implemented in mainland China) and who also held senior management positions in the hotel industry. We found that these women leaders place a greater emphasis on self-perception in the pursuit of "worldly success." We also analyzed the supportive factors of the family of origin and the nuclear family for these women leaders and found that China's one-child policy has a more pronounced effect on the family of origin. Through gathering the personality and behavioural characteristics of these female leaders, we concluded that empathy, good luck and resourceful are their unique characteristics comparing previous studies. In terms of self-awareness, as its internal support, we analyzed seven different scenarios, which include when the female leaders were promoted to department heads, childhood experiences, situations when faced with adversity, and influences from their families of origin. Regarding the external support of these post-80s women leaders, we not only examined their support from mentors, networks, organizations and cultures, but also tapped into the culture of the region they were born in, the influence of their families of origin, and even the supportive factors of the nuclear family. In addition, we concluded that the one-child policy in mainland China is almost a central event that affects post-1980 Chinese hospitality women leaders throughout their lives, including influencing their sense of self, family, and career journeys. To demonstrate better the stories of these female leaders, we followed the narrative analysis structure proposed by Yussen and Ozcan (1996) and stated the plot from the different perspectives of the female leader from the one-child family and the one from the non one-child family. Based on the findings, we distil the interviewers' career development recommendations for female hotel industry practitioners and provided more specific enablers of internal and external support for female leaders in the hotel industry. The results of this study contributed to the development of organizational behaviour and paternalistic leadership (PL) theories and promote regional culture and economy thinking about the traits of female leaders in hospitality. The outcomes also provided hospitality-related educators with implications on how to develop female students enrolled in hospitality management programs into future professional leaders. In addition, this study provided a more vivid reference value for national policy makers. Hospitality managers also should better understand how organizations can facilitate the career development of their female colleagues. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7862.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 3.63 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/13449