Gender and management

Matthew looked at his watch as he locked his car and began to hurry across the car park. '7.45 am,' he thought, 'I really should have got in earlier today.' Slightly breathless, he pushed open the doors of TransCorp, pausing only briefly to nod to the caretaker, and ran up the stairs to his office two steps at a time. The office looked less than welcoming — desk positioned strategically to face the door, filing cabinets gleaming, the only personal touch a small cactus on his windowsill — as he removed his jacket and sat down at his PC. It seemed only minutes later when there was a knock at the door and his boss David entered. He began immediately: