Women in facilities management practice: assessing the impact of women on workplace efficiency in private and public institutions in Ghana

Purpose In recent years, gender diversity in facilities management (FM) has gained global attention and is recognised as crucial for innovation and effective decision-making. Despite this development, the profession in developing countries such as Ghana remains male-dominated, with limited empirical evidence on women’s leadership roles and their contributions to operational efficiency, employee satisfaction and workplace productivity. Understanding these dynamics would help promote gender inclusion towards achieving effective FM. This study aims to explore female representation in FM leadership in Accra, its impact on workplace efficiency and the challenges women in FM face. Design/methodology/approach The study used a mixed-methods approach (concurrent mixed-methods design), using a questionnaire. The questionnaire included both closed-ended and open-ended questions. Remote snowballing was adopted, and the questionnaire was administered through online Google Forms. Based on a survey of 100 women and 32 management officials in FM in Accra. Findings The study found that women are significantly underrepresented in leadership roles within FM in Accra. However, gender inclusion in FM was found to lead to benefits such as enhanced collaboration, increased staff morale and greater innovation. It was found that female leadership has a positive impact on workplace efficiency, fostering improved communication, empathy, teamwork and increased employee engagement. However, women in FM faced challenges such as difficulties in balancing work and family, gender stereotyping, limited mentorship, restricted career advancement and lack of respect. Practical implications The insights gained from this study may assist employers, staff and administrators in FM in delivering efficient FM services. Originality/value The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing new and deeper understanding of the role, experiences and challenges of women in FM from an African context.