Organisational Factors, Social Factors, and Women's Advancement

This study examines if organisation size and the degree to which the organisational hierarchy is male moderate the relationships between social factors (career and psychosocial functions of mentor support, and internal and external networks) and women's advancement in management. In all, 848 women in the Australian banking sector were surveyed. Results from moderator regression analyses found that, although male hierarchy does not moderate these relationships, the size of the organisation does. Specifically, career functions of mentor support and internal networks explain women's advancement more in small than in large banks. Recommendations for facilitating women's advancement in management are discussed.