This article offers a theoretical analysis of knowledge creation through networking, specifically drawing upon the example of female senior managers as potential knowledge creators. The article constructs a model of networks and their corresponding knowledge and organizational types. It highlights the importance of differentiating between formal and informal networks and shows that senior women have limited access to and are often excluded from strategic informal networks, such as the old boys' network. Restricted network access denies involvement in the exchange and creation of tacit knowledge and ultimately, organizational resources and power. The strength of network ties may also impact upon the quality of knowledge exchanged within networks, its level of complexity and strategic relevance. The article contributes to the debate on the gendering of the knowledge economy and suggests a theoretical approach to understanding women's inclusion and exclusion from knowledge creation in organizations.

The promotional prospects, career mobility and networking experiences of 16 female part-time managers are explored in this article. It attempts to explain the labour market position of female part-time managers, comparing their employment experiences, career progression and networking while working full and part-time. The majority had successful career histories while full-time but these careers stalled once a transition to part-time work was made. Many voiced frustration with their employment prospects in terms of mobility and promotion, which were limited given the perceived lack of quality jobs at managerial level in the external labour market. There was recognition that networking had made an important contribution to career progression but for most women, the transition into part-time employment meant that opportunities to network decreased due to time constraints.

This paper explores the careers of 27 women employed as part-time managers in a range of UK public, private and not-for-profit sector organizations. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews, the article briefly summarizes the career trajectories of these women, prior to and after a transition to part-time working, before exploring whether and how career progression is linked to the support of role models and mentors. The part-time managers in this sample held varied careers while working full-time, but careers often stalled following a transition to part-time work. Given research has identified role models and mentors as having a positive impact upon career progression, this paper explores the existence of role models and mentors within the sample of female part-time managers. While the majority of interviewees identified role models, just over half identified these as negative role models who did little to champion part-time working. Drawing upon Gibson's 'positive/negative' role model dimensions, we argue the likelihood of identifying positive and negative role models alters when an analysis takes account of gender and working hours. Few interviewees identified mentors: just four women spoke of being mentored currently, though ten others identified being mentored in the past. We argue this lack of mentors and the identification of negative role models, the majority of whom were women, exacerbates the already precarious position of these female part-time managers. The paper concludes by commenting on the lack of support for female part-time managers, and the paucity of influential people working part-time in organizations, despite the rapid growth of part-time work in the UK over the past four decades.

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