Women in Global Professional Services Firms: The End of the Gentlemen's Club?

Typology Of Professional Services Firms

In the 20^th century service industries, including accounting, law, engineering, and some others became dominant around the world. Currently, knowledge-intensive services constitute the fastest growing segment of the world economy (Gross et al., 2013). Professional services firms employ significant numbers of professionals, who apply specialized knowledge to serve their clients (Lopes et al., 2015). Usually, background of professionals is characterized by high-level skill, acquired learning, and commitment to ethical standards and their clients. Professionals are often required to demonstrate their expertise by continuing education, certification, and membership in professional associations. They are held in high esteem, assert their status and autonomy, and capitalize on their expertise by charging high fees. High-skill labor processes common in professional service firms require specialist knowledge, personal judgement and responsibility, as well as relatively high levels of trust in the ability of the professional to adhere to the highest standards of professional ethics (Danford et al., 2013; Fasterling, 2009; Krausert, 2014). Interest in professional service firms is fueled by the notion that due to their emphasis on professional work they are different from other types of firms and require distinctive organizational principles and management practices (Von Nordenflycht, 2010).