Exploring the efficacy of structural empowerment in breaking career progression barriers among female engineers in Malaysia

Purpose As discrimination against women persists in the engineering and technical fields in Malaysia's economy at the managerial level, this study explored the efficacy of Structural Empowerment in breaking career progression barriers among female engineers in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Exploratory design and qualitative approach were employed for this study. A semi-structured interview method was used to collect the data from twenty-eight (28) purposively selected respondents. NVivo was utilized for the data analysis, which involved a thematic analysis technique. Findings The study has demonstrated that Structural Empowerment can be effectively employed to break career progression barriers among female engineers in Malaysia and can also play a crucial role in fostering a more inclusive environment. The study has also identified specific Structural Empowerment strategies for implementation. However, the unique context of each organization and the diverse factors that may contribute to or hinder career advancement should be considered, in creating a supportive ecosystem for female engineers' career progression. Practical implications Management should continuously analyse the organization's policies and practices, checking whether they are inclusive and fair. Management should implement leadership development programs that identify and nurture the potential of female engineers, and provide opportunities for them to take on leadership roles and participate in decision-making processes. Leaders and managers should be educated in recognizing and mitigating biases that may affect female career progression. Originality/value This study makes a contribution to the literature by suggesting that Structural Empowerment could be used to influence career progression. Furthermore, adopting the social exchange theory in promoting career progression among Malaysian female Engineers is novel.