"Game or no Game: Navigating Office Politics and Female Leaders Success" by Clementina Edema

Graduation Term

Spring 2025

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

Committee Chair

Lance Lippert

Committee Member

Andrew Ventimiglia

Committee Member

John Baldwin

Abstract

The examination of women and leadership has always focused on power dynamics, biases, and identity inside organizations, particularly with the challenges women encounter in the workplace. This study presents the concept of office politics as it pertains to women’s career advancement and its impact on female leaders in the workplace. The objective of the study is to examine how women in organizations navigate office politics, dealing with it as a barrier to career progression. The labyrinth metaphor proposed by Eagly and Carli (2007) served as the conceptual framework to illustrate the challenges women encounter in organizations while pursuing leadership roles. Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory was utilized to demonstrate how office politics in the workplace can result in the formation of in-group and out-group members. A semi-structured interview was conducted via Zoom videoconferencing platform with fifteen (15) female leaders from various organizations in the United States. The data collected was analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis guide, resulting in the identification of four overarching themes. This study’s findings indicate that women typically view office politics negatively, as they feel it results in their exclusion from significant decision-making in their organizations, which reflects biases and stereotypes. Female leaders also build networks and strategic alliances to navigate office politics.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

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