Frauen in der Logistik - Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien

Abstract
I
The Austrian economy is characterised by a very low proportion of women in leading
positions. Although women’s employment is as high as never before and women are
very well-trained, top management consists predominantly of male executives. There is
no progress with regard to a balanced proportion during the last fifteen years. In some
industries, as logistics and information technology, the percentage to women in leading
positions is particularly low. The diploma thesis includes causal research regarding the
low proportion of women in leading positions in logistics and the transport industry. The
aim of the paper is to find out if the responsible factors are within the industry sector,
the economic system or they are gender related. At first, a theoretical framework of the
concept of logistics management, human resource development and gender main-
streaming which has impacts on career developments of the employees in logistics, is
provided, followed by an analysis of the contemporary situation of women in the Aus-
trian economy, especially in logistics. Subsequently, a qualitative research was con-
ducted. Different experts of the transport industry, such as university professors, hu-
man resource managers and employees, have been consulted. The evaluation of the
interviews shows that 1) the acceptance of female managers is low, 2) it is difficult to
set up a work-life-balance for working mums, 3) sociopolitical conditions disadvance
women 4) the knowledge about gender mainstreaming is low and 5) some female em-
ployees have low self-esteem. Concluding, the final results are summarized and rec-
ommendations are presented.