Sylvia has recently been denied a promotion. This is the third time she was turned down for a promotion despite excellent performance reviews. Her manager assures her that she was qualified for the promotion but "that's just the way things go." After this latest disappointment, Sylvia did an in-depth research on the history of her company. She found that only two women candidates had been promoted to upper management positions in the company's entire history. ________ is the factor that is most likely obstructing Sylvia's career growth.
A) A diversity-oriented employer
B) A wide span of control
C) The glass-ceiling effect
D) The black-swan effect
E) An affirmative action

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The glass-ceiling effect refers to an invisible barrier that prevents qualified individuals, particularly women and minorities, from advancing to higher levels in the organizational hierarchy. This is the most likely factor that is obstructing Sylvia's career growth, as evidenced by the company's history of promoting only two women to upper management positions. A diversity-oriented employer and affirmative action policies could have helped address this issue, but there is no indication that Sylvia's company has implemented such measures. A wide span of control and black-swan effect are not relevant to Sylvia's situation.

Sylvia Has Recently Been Denied a Promotion