The gender diversity–performance linkage at the board of directors and the workforce levels: testing two competing curvilinear models
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2023-04-07
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Emerald
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Purpose – The use of linear models has major limitations for accurately representing the true link between
gender diversity and organizational performance. This study aims to explore two curvilinear models and tests
which one – the U-shape or the inverted U-shape – best represents the gender diversity–performance link at
two hierarchical levels: the board of directors and the workforce.
Design/methodology/approach – Both models are tested using data collected from a representative
sample of Spanish educational organizations, which are dominated numerically by women, although women
are still slightly underrepresented in managerial positions.
Findings – The results show the existence of an inverted U-shape and, therefore, the existence of a potential
“optimal” level of gender diversity for both the board of directors and the workforce. While the highest
performance by the board of directors is attained when the proportion of women and men is balanced in the
workforce, the highest level of performance is attained when the proportion of women is greater.
Originality/value – There are hardly any studies simultaneously exploring the gender diversity–
performance linkage at two hierarchical levels where the proportion of women/men is substantially different:
the board of directors and the workforce. Thus, this study contributes to better know whether such
relationship is dependent on the hierarchical position. It is important to know this because each level is related
to different functions and tasks and shape a social status that can significantly influence performance
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Citación
Campos-García, I. and Zúñiga-Vicente, J.Á. (2023), "The gender diversity–performance linkage at the board of directors and the workforce levels: testing two competing curvilinear models", Gender in Management, Vol. 38 No. 3, pp. 373-393. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-02-2022-0054
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