Brenda Has Recently Been Denied a Promotion

Multiple Choice

Brenda has recently been denied a promotion. This is the third time she was turned down for 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, Brenda 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. Which of the following factors is most likely obstructing Brenda'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