PERCEPTIONS OF COMPETENCEIN EVALUATION AND PROMOTIONPROCESSES : ON THE REPRODUCTION AND CHANGE OFMALE DOMINANCE IN MANAGEMENT ININDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract: Today’s industrial markets are experiencing changes with the realization of new radical technologies, which are disrupting how organizations work. This new wave of technology and focus towards sustainability is shifting the competencies needed within organizations to maintain their competitive advantage. The adoption of such technological innovations without causing any delays requires a widespectrum of competencies among employees to be present in industrial organizations. One way to achieve this is to have a diverse top management team that reflects a wide spectrum of competenciesand skills. However, achieving this is a challenge due to the culture of gendering found inorganizations, especially with regard to evaluation and promotion processes. The purpose of this report is to investigate the way in which evaluation and promotion practices in industrial organizationscan contribute to the reproduction and change of male dominance in management. Through exploring the different perceptions of competencies, evaluation and promotion processes, and ways to how to drive gender balance within an industrial organization, the purpose of this report is achieved. The main approaches taken include using available theory on organizational change, gendered work ideals, homosociality, perceptions of competence, and ways to evaluate employees to analyze data gathered. This is then tied with a field study done on one of the Swedish companies operating in a male dominated industrial environment. The analysis addresses the common ways in which evaluation and promotion processes can contribute to the reproduction of male dominance andways to prevent that from happening. The proposed recommendations address the opportunities forchange at company A, based on theory work for gender balance.