A career path study of women managers in the service industry of higher education and women managers in the hospital industry in the midwest

The purpose of the study was to examine the career paths of women managers in the service area of higher education and women managers in the hospital industry service area. A secondary purpose was to identify factors that influence the advancement of women managers in those areas.This research outlined the career paths of women managers in the service industry in educational and in non-educational organizations. It identified encouragements and impediments to the promotion of qualified women in the areas of management within the service industry.Findings from the study show that there is no significant difference between the career paths of women managers in higher education and women managers in the hospital industry. There are no differences between the education, training, length of tenure, motivation for employment, mentoring, emotional support or career impediments of women managers in service area of both higher education and the hospital industry.The following conclusions were drawn from the study:1. Women in the service field of higher education and the hospital industry face very similar histories.2. Entry into the profession can be found through a variety of sources and it is through the investigation of these sources that a woman will find entry into this field.3. Very few women reported career impediments and many reported having the emotional support of family and friends.4. The true reason why the experienced, educated, trained woman manager has not progressed up the career and salary ladder until the past several years has not been found. Both groups are being motivated by opportunity for advancement and salary.5. Most women managers in the service have been the determinants of their own career advancement. The women desiring to become managers in the service field must realize that the future of her career and its advancement lies with her own decisions and her own initiative. The woman manager must be responsible for her own future.Department of Educational LeadershipThesis (D. Ed.