Factors affecting women working in the pharmaceutical sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Introductionthank to its consider adequate to(p) oil resources, Saudi-Arabian Arabia has evolved from a relatively poor inelegant to become the worlds dominant oil producer and cardinal of the wealthiest regions in the Middle East. There is international pressure on the rulers to treat political and social reforms, including enhancing the participation of wowork force within the national workforce.Research understateInteresting findings ab reveal workings women in adjacent Jordan eat up been generated by the countrys National Centre for Human Resource Development, which has carried out query into the experience of women workers in the private sphere, namely in the Communications, meshwork and pharmaceuticals industries. This research was prompted because of recognition that womens participation in the Jordanian tire out market is growing and the fact that womens participation is often hindered by social perceptions, practices and sometimes legislation (Peebles, Darwazeh, Ghosheh and Sabbah, 2007). Given the size and scale of Jordan (population or so 6.5 million) compared with Saudi Arabia (population approximately 27.1 million), it seems likely that some of these hindrances ordain alike consecrate to Saudi Arabia.The pharmaceuticals industry in Saudi Arabia is the richest in the Gulf region1 and among the largest of whatever those in the Middle East Saudi Arabia represents 65%, or $1.7 cardinal of the pharmaceutical market in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)2, which is currently precious at$2.7 billion per year3 (Issa, Al-Ammar and Mostafa, 2009).ProposalThe research proposal is to examine the factors bear on women working in the pharmaceuticals industry, with particular reference to perceived advantages and barriers. It is anticipated that the issues arising pass on overwhelm those touching on human rights, equal opportunities and discrimination piety and education legislation, including family law cultural norm s and also resistance to radical throw within the community of Saudi Arabian distaffs. donnish LiteratureAcademic treatises on women in Muslim cultures include a synopsis of literary productions revues produced by the Library of Congress (Offenhauer, 2005), which includes chapters on womens roles in the juicy economy as well as in the domestic setting. free state Universitys Professor in the Department of Business and Executive Programs, Dr. Dorothy Minkus-McKenna, researched entrepreneurship among Saudi Arabian women albeit on an exploratory basis and without the benefit of statistical data, and say the different track of lifes in which success is measured and valued. This provides useful emphasize study nearly womens perceptions of their role in the workplace.In a further look at entrepreneurship, another study (Sadi and Al-Ghazali, 2009) sought to ensnare what motivated women entrepreneurs and pinpointed barriers as being a lack of co-ordination and governmental appl y limited competition due to market domination a dearth of market studies poor support from the internal community and the general restrictions oblige by society.Whilst limited, the available literature serves to confirm that women in Saudi Arabia argue to establish themselves in the workplace on an equal footing with men. overall Aim and ObjectivesThe aim of the research is to identify the key factors that act as obstacles to women working in the pharmaceuticals sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To come across this, the focus of the research impart be on the pharmaceuticals confederation, Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries4, one of the largest research-driven companies producing veterinary, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals products in KSA.The objectives of the research will be to establishWhether social and cultural norms in KSA act against women making progress in the workplace. Whether the reach of legislation relating to the workplace has an adverse affect on women. Whether child contend responsibilities intermeddle with womens progress in their working lives. Whether financial pressures, and related issues, have a bearing on working women.In relation to the pharmaceuticals sectorWhether there are perceptions that some jobs are much appropriate for women than others. Whether grammatical gender bias, marital status, someoneal appearance and religious discrimination have a bearing on recruitment techniques and practices. Whether there are perceived or real barriers to women achieving management positions. Research Methodology and MethodsA number of methods will be used in order to achieve the objectives. Secondary research will establish the required knowledge on cultural and societal norms, and legislation. Primary research will provide the quantitative and qualitative information pertaining to women in the workplace.Participants will be invited to complete a questionnaire without disclosing their name. In this way their anonymity will be protected and it should ensure that they are able to be open and honest about their workplace experiences without any business organization of reprisal.Online questionnaires will enable participants with access to a computer to respond relatively quickly and easily, however paper questionnaires can also be issued if this is deemed to a greater extent suitable for certain members of the try on population.Primary ResearchA questionnaire designed to elicit the required information will be prepared for workers at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). The Authority was established on 10th March 2033 and is charged with ensuring that drugs and foodstuffs manufactured for consumption by humans and animals are safe this includes chemical and biological substances and also medical equipment. SFDA has been chosen because it has a relationship at some level with all the pharmaceuticals companies in Saudi Arabia, and it also sets the standards and regulations as to how they operate.Ques tionnaire 1The brush up will include a sample of both male and female workers at SFDA, establish on the demographic of people of working age in Saudi Arabia. Current estimates indicate that the ratio of males to females aged 1564 long time is approximately 54, however it is not known exactly how more female workers are currently employed at SFDA. Ideally, a sample of 180 employees would include 100 men and 80 women.The questionnaire will invite workers about their educational background prior to employment, to provide information on their current position at SFDA. Data will be equanimous on their responsibilities in the workplace, and also those outside work relating to childcare and care of any other dependants. Questions about the impact the job makes on their financial situation will be included. Finally, the questionnaire will seek to establish the charge plans of participants and their experiences of training and promotion.Questionnaire 2Directed at Human Resources (HR) pe rsonnel, this questionnaire will tackle up about participants interview techniques when recruiting staff, including the extent to which personal questions about an applicants marital status, social status, place of residency and childbearing plans are discussed. Peebles, Darwazeh, Ghosheh and Sabbah (2007) put it was common practice among HR professionals in Jordan to ask personal questions at job interviews, which the staff justified on the basis that this was a way of obtaining information about the character of an applicant, and of determining their suitability for work-related travel or overtime.The questionnaire will ask about the types of jobs, and the opportunities for training and promotion, that are available to men and women, with the intention of determining whether these are on an equal footing. Qualitative information on the perceived commitment levels of female and male employees will also be sought.Other MethodsData collection could also be achieved via a longitudi nal study, that is where the researcher spends a considerable period of time infix in the cheek in order to observe interrelationships and company operations on a day-to-day basis.Structured or semi-structured interviews could be conducted with workers and HR personnel as an alternative to a survey.One or more focus groups could be convened to discuss the findings of the survey, in order to provide enhance qualitative information.These methods have been considered and rejected as they are either too time-consuming and impracticable.Secondary ResearchReports and articles by other researchers concerned with female workers in the Middle East and their work experiences in pharmaceuticals companies will be studied to obtain an overview of the sector and the key issues relating to women workers. Very basic statistical information about SFDA is also available on LinkedIn5 where a a few(prenominal) members of staff are also listed.Data AnalysisInformation from the questionnaires will be analysed to elicit clear information on the position of women working in pharmaceuticals in KSA their educational background, experience of recruitment, training and promotion and any barriers they have encountered in terms of their advancement in the workplace. Qualitative information will provide the context for the statistics.Planning and Critical Analysis leave will be needed from the SFDA Executive Management to conduct the survey among a sample of staff members, and the researchers contact person within the company could facilitate this.If permission is not granted, it may electrostatic be possible for some members of staff to participate in a private capacity (for example, via LinkedIn) although participants may be hesitant and it may be difficult to attract 180 people by this method.SFDA may deprivation to alter the wording or the questions in the survey to suit company needs, however any proposed changes will have to be carefully scrutinised by the researcher before any changes are agreed.Alternatively, another pharmaceuticals company could be used, such as Merck Serono, which has a base in Saudi Arabia and company headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and a UK office.LimitationsThe surveys are limited to a selection of the working population in one specific organisation and although a degree of extrapolation is possible the findings will not represent a comprehensive and in-depth view of the countrys entire pharmaceuticals sector.TimescaleObtaining permissions and approvals and distributing questionnaires will take up to five weeks, withdata analysis in week sestet and writing up of the findings in weeks seven ten.ReferencesBBC (2012). Saudi Arabia profile. Online. 16th January. available at http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14702705Issa, N.A., Al-Ammar, A.I. and Mostafa, S. (2009) wellnesscare and Pharmaceutical Industries in Saudi Arabia. American Health Lawyers Association.Minkus-McKenna, D. (2009). Women Entrepreneurs in Riyadh, Sau di Arabia. Working paper. http//bit.ly/yCoxTYOffenhauer, P. (2005). Women in Islamic societies a selected review of social scientific literature. Report. Library of Congress. Online. available at http//www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Women_Islamic_Societies.pdfPeebles, D., Darwazeh, N., Ghosheh H. and Sabbah, A. (2007) Factors Affecting Womens confederation in the Private Sector in Jordan. Research Report. National concenter for Human Resources Development.Sadi, M. A. and Al-Ghazali, B. M. (2010). Doing business with impudence A focus on women entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. Research paper. African Journal of Business Management Vol. 4(1), pp.1-11, January. Online. available at http//www.academicjournals.org/AJBM.Saudi Food and Drug Authority. available at http//www.sfda.gov.sa/En/Home/Topics/about/