| dc.description.abstract | This thesis it written upon a request from Volvo IT India, in order to explain how the
organisation can increase gender diversity and the effects an increase might generate. The thesis
aims to investigate and understand the respondents’ perceptions on why women in India start working
and the challenges they might come across. Furthermore, Volvo IT India wants to facilitate work
life balance for females which is why the thesis also aims to explore how the employees manage the
work and family dilemma from a gender perspective, with an emphasized focus on mothers.
The theoretical and empirical background regards gender diversity, the work-family dilemma, role
theory, border theory and flexibility. In order to obtain and fully understand the respondents’
thoughts and feelings, a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was used. The
respondents consists of 12 employees at Volvo IT India; women with children, women without children
and men with children, with four respondents in each category. According to the findings, there is
a lot that Volvo IT India can gain from having a diverse workforce, for example gender diversity
leads to productivity and creates innovation. Work- family interface is something that all of the
respondents face, but it emerged that the females experience higher degrees of both work-family
interface and vice versa. It was also shown that the respondents were satisfied with their work
and the family situation but that the borders between them were more difficult to separate for the
females than the men.
Most of the respondents express that having multiple roles is a gratitude for them and the benefits
that it generates compensates the downsides. To create a more satisfying work-life balance,
decrease gender inequalities and create more equal opportunities for everyone in the organisation
the respondents would like to see more flexible work options. | sv |
