Disrupting board appointments: Australia's governance guidelines and gender capital

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Sheridan ◽  
Linley Lord ◽  
Anne Ross-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Small Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Directors ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Board Dynamics ◽  
Human And Social Capital ◽  
Gender Capital

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify how board recruitment processes have been impacted by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) governance changes requiring listed boards to report annually on their gender diversity policy and profile.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a social constructivist approach, the research analyses interviews conducted with matched samples of board directors and stakeholders in 2010 and 2017 about board recruitment in ASX50 companies.FindingsThe introduction of ASX guidelines requiring gender reporting disrupted traditional board appointment processes. Women's gender capital gained currency, adding an additional dimension to the high levels of human and social capital seen as desirable for board appointments. The politics of women's presence is bringing about changes to the discourse and practice about who should/can be a director. The authors identify highly strategic ways in which women's gender capital has been used to agitate for more women to be appointed to boards.Research limitations/implicationsWhile sample sizes are small, data within the themes cohered meaningfully across the time periods, making visible how women's presence in the board room has been reframed. Future research could consider what this may mean for board dynamics and how enduring are these changes.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the forms that human and social capital take in board appointments, which can be instructive for potential directors, and how these intersect with gender capital. The insights from the study are relevant to board recruitment committees seeking to reflect their commitment to a more gender equitable environment.Originality/valueThere has been a recalibration of men's and women's gender capital in board appointments, and there is now a currency in femaleness disrupting the historical privilege afforded “maleness”.

A social capital view of women on boards and their impact on firm performance

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Oldford ◽  
Saif Ullah ◽  
Ashrafee Tanvir Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Board Diversity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to leverage a two-sided view of social capital to develop a model of board gender diversity and firm performance using social capital data from Northeast Regional Center of Rural Development.Design/methodology/approachThe authors examine a large sample of 2,322 US publicly listed firms over the period 1996 to 2009. The final sample consists of 14,634 firm-year observations.FindingsThe authors find that when a firm's social network is not supportive of gender diversity, corporate boards have lower levels of female representation. The strength of a social network's social ties exacerbates the relationship between social capital and board gender diversity. The authors also report a negative relationship between female board membership and firm performance in social networks that are not pro-diversity. Robustness tests reveal that the authors’ social capital view of board diversity also applies to board ethnic diversity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses primarily on blue chip firms due to data constraints. It will be interesting for future researchers to investigate a broader spectrum of firms from a broader perspective of diversity beyond the study’s gender and ethnicity findings. Furthermore, this study assesses the US context, and future research could investigate firm sociability in other national contexts.Practical implicationsThis study contributes new insights to the discourse on gender diversity on corporate boards which stand to inform both policy and practice. The results of the study can inform the position of an industry association on board gender diversity, with guidance on how messaging across networks can be more effective should it account for the hidden bias that the authors uncover in the current study. From a manager's perspective, this study can help those managers and boards trying to enhance board gender diversity by providing a more complete understanding of the factors that can limit progress.Originality/valueThis study contributes a social capital view of board gender diversity to the growing literature of corporate governance, board diversity and local environmental influences on corporate policies.

Managing social and human capital in organizations

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelia Manuti ◽  
Maria Antonietta Impedovo ◽  
Pasquale Davide De Palma
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intangible Asset ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Human And Social Capital ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of communities of practice in organizations and their most beneficial effects for both individual and collective development. Design/methodology/approach Based on a literature review, from the first authoritative texts by Lave and Wenger until the most recent critiques, the paper has attempted to conciliate the individual and the organizational perspectives about this precious tool for knowledge management and creation. Findings Because of their distinctive features, a joint enterprise, a mutual engagement and a shared repertoire, if strategically managed, might resort to individual and organizational positive outcomes. From an individual perspective, communities could be beneficial in developing professional skills, a stronger sense of identity and finding continuity even during discontinuity and change. From an organizational perspective, communities of practice could help drive the strategy, start new lines of business, solve problems quickly and transfer best practices. Research limitations/implications Many limitations about this conceptualization have been presented. Therefore, future research should try to focus on communities within different socio-cultural contexts and within different kinds of organizations. Practical implications Practical implications about the use of communities of practice within organizational contexts are mainly linked to the enhancement of human and social capital seen as a strategic, although intangible, asset. Social implications The social implications of this paper are connected to the contribution to the discussion on the theme which is quite uncommon in human resource management research. Originality/value The value of this paper is the attempt to connect the communities of practice to human and social capital.

Audit committee characteristics and tax aggressiveness

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manon Deslandes ◽  
Anne Fortin ◽  
Suzanne Landry
Keyword(s):  
Audit Committee ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Tax Planning ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Board Governance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
Tax Aggressiveness ◽  
Financial Expertise ◽  
And Gender

Purpose This study aims to analyze the relationship between a company’s use of aggressive tax planning and several audit committee members’ characteristics, namely, independence, expertise, diligence and gender diversity. Design/methodology/approach This paper is an empirical research using archival data from 289 Canadian listed companies for the 2011-2015 period. Findings The authors find that measures of expertise and diligence are significantly related to tax aggressiveness. Financial expertise and tenure on the audit committee play an important role in constraining tax aggressiveness, as does having a larger audit committee. Research limitations/implications One limitation – and an area for future research – is that the effects of the audit committee members’ relationships with managers of the firms were not investigated. Practical implications Knowledge of audit committee characteristics may send a signal to shareholders, investors and tax agencies regarding the company’s potential risk with respect to aggressive tax planning. The analysis provides useful insights for board governance committees when determining the profile of persons to nominate for board positions and committees. In discussing tax-risk management, the study may heighten audit committee members’ awareness of their role in this respect. Originality/value This study’s results indicate that even in a setting where incentives for firms to be tax-aggressive is low compared to high-tax rate countries, there is variability in firms’ tax aggressiveness. This situation allows us to find audit committee characteristics that are effective in decreasing tax aggressiveness.

scholarly journals Female directors on boards. The impact of faultlines on CSR reporting

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Camino Ramon-Llorens ◽  
Emma Garcia-Meca ◽  
María Consuelo Pucheta-Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Alternative View ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Female Directors ◽  
Csr Disclosure ◽  
Human And Social Capital

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the role of female directors on CSR disclosure. It assumes the existence of faultlines when studying gender diversity and classifies female directors into three categories: industry experts, advisors and community leaders. It also examines the influence of the power of female directors as a moderator on the association between female director categories and CSR disclosure. Design/methodology/approach The paper bases on a dynamic generalized method of moments panel estimator which allows controlling for the unobservable heterogeneity and endogeneity and reduces the estimation bias. Findings Results confirm the double-sided nature of gender diversity, noting different behavior among female directors according to their experience and backgrounds. Moreover, the dominating owner position of female directors can balance and moderate the effect of female directors appointed for their technical knowledge or political and social ties. The results also confirm the necessity to not consider all women directors as a homogeneous group and explore the influence and interrelations of female faultlines on CSR disclosure. Practical implications The paper highlights the need to consider the specific skills, expertise, and connections of female board members when analyzing the effect of board composition, and supports the view that firms should emphasize the unique human and social capital of directors to understand how boards impact on firm strategies. Specifically, the authors support the recommendations of the European Commission (2011) regarding the need to increase skills and expertise when selecting new non-executive female board members. Social implications At a time when most governments are introducing active policies that require firms to nominate women to boards, the understanding of the consequences of women’s presence on boards and the interrelations between female power and the diverse categories of female directors is timely and important. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that provides empirical evidence to the scarcely studied area of the human and social capital of female directors’ roles in CSR disclosure, providing an alternative view of the role of women in corporate board effectiveness.

Social capital in the theory and research of LIS professionals in the light of the literature on the subject. Review of current knowledge

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Dorota Wojciechowska
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Social Capital ◽  
Rural Libraries ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to present the latest scholarly trends in the field of social capital in libraries, to review research concepts published by LIS professionals and to suggest further research possibilities in this area. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a review and critical analysis of literature associated with research on social capital in libraries to highlight its importance for the development of LIS and its impact on the functioning of environments linked with various types of libraries. The goal of literature analysis was to determine the current condition of research on social capital in libraries. The main trends were identified and the need for further qualitative analyses, which are missing at the moment, was confirmed. Findings It was determined that, so far, LIS professionals have focussed mainly on the role of municipal libraries in developing social capital, the problem of building trust, especially in immigrant circles and the impact of libraries on promoting a civil society. Academic libraries, rural libraries, organisational capital in libraries and individual social capital of librarians were a much less frequent subject of research. The role of libraries in developing social capital in educational (primary and secondary education) and professional (non-university professionals) circles is practically non-existent in research, and it will require in-depth studies and analyses in the coming years. Originality/value This paper constitutes a synthetic review of the latest research concepts concerning social capital in libraries. It identifies the most important research trends and areas that so far have not been explored and suggests research methods to help LIS professionals design future research in this area more effectively.

The influence of board social capital on corporate social responsibility reporting

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuria Reguera-Alvarado ◽  
Francisco Bravo-Urquiza
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Dynamic Panel Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Csr Reporting ◽  
Multiple Directorships ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Board Social Capital

PurposeThe main objective of this paper is to analyze the influence of multiple directorships, as a critical component of board social capital, on CSR reporting. This study also explores the moderating effect of certain board attributes on multiple directorships.Design/methodology/approachThe authors’ sample is composed of Spanish listed firms in the Madrid Stock Exchange for the period 2011–2017. A dynamic panel data model based on the Generalized Method of Moments (GMMs) is employed.FindingsRelying on a resource dependence view, the authors’ results highlight an ambiguously positive association between multiple directorships and the level of CSR reporting. In particular, this relationship is positively moderated by both board size and gender diversity.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings contribute to academic debates concerning the value of board members intellectual capital. In particular, the authors emphasize the importance of board social capital, as well as the need to consider the context in which directors make decisions.Practical implicationsThis evidence may prove helpful to firms when configuring the board of directors, and for regulators and professionals when refining their legislations and recommendations.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that empirically analyzes the impact of an important element of board social capital, such as multiple directorships, on CSR reporting, which has become crucial in financial markets.

scholarly journals Individual and group antecedents of satisfaction: One lab- multilevel study

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel M. Martínez ◽  
Eva Cifre
Keyword(s):  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Work Group ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Group Cohesion ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Level 1 ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Individual Self

<p>This study examines the simultaneous effect of individual (self-efficacy) and group variables (cohesion and gender diversity) on satisfaction. A laboratory study was conducted involving 373 college students randomly distributed across 79 small groups, who performed a laboratory task in about five hours. Two-level Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) method was used. Results show the main effect from individual self-efficacy to satisfaction (both level 1), the cross-level effect from group cohesion (level 2) to individual satisfaction (level 1), and the interaction effect between self-efficacy and gender diversity to satisfaction. These results suggest that in a work group, satisfaction has a background in individual and group variables. Group cohesion and gender diversity have important effects on satisfaction. The article concludes with practical strategies and with limitations and suggestions for future research.</p>

scholarly journals Reading on and between the lines: risk identification in collaborative and adversarial buyer–supplier relationships

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyi Fan ◽  
Mark Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
Social Capital Theory ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Supplier Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Signalling Theory ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate how supply chain risks can be identified in both collaborative and adversarial buyer–supplier relationships (BSRs). Design/methodology/approach This research includes a multiple-case study involving ten Chinese manufacturers with two informants per organisation. Data have been interpreted from a multi-level social capital perspective (i.e. from both an individual and organisational level), supplemented by signalling theory. Findings Buyers use different risk identification strategies or apply the same strategy in different ways according to the BSR type. The impact of organisational social capital on risk identification is contingent upon the degree to which individual social capital is deployed in a way that benefits an individual’s own agenda versus that of the organisation. Signalling theory generally complements social capital theory and helps further understand how buyers can identify risks, especially in adversarial BSRs, e.g. by using indirect signals from suppliers or other supply chain actors to “read between the lines” and anticipate risks. Research limitations/implications Data collection is focussed on China and is from the buyer side only. Future research could explore other contexts and include the supplier perspective. Practical implications The types of relationships that are developed by buyers with their supply chain partners at an organisational and an individual level have implications for risk exposure and how risks can be identified. The multi-level analysis highlights how strategies such as employee rotation and retention can be deployed to support risk identification. Originality/value Much of the extant literature on supply chain risk management is focussed on risk mitigation, whereas risk identification is under-represented. A unique case-based insight is provided into risk identification in different types of BSRs by using a multi-level social capital approach complemented by signalling theory.

Critiquing the marginalised place of research on women within international business

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 348-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Snejina Michailova ◽  
Kate Hutchings
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Women And Gender ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Borders ◽  
Research Themes ◽  
The Social ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Considerable Discussion

Purpose This paper aims to provide a critical perspective of how the theme of women, and more broadly gender, have been treated in extant international business (IB) literature. It also suggests meaningful and promising avenues in this research space. Design/methodology/approach This paper is not intended to provide a comprehensive literature review; rather, it offers a critical and reflective view on the development of the IB stream of literature in which discussion of women has been largely marginalised. Findings While women and gender have been topics of considerable discussion across a range of disciplines in the social sciences, they have received limited examination in the IB literature despite this discipline being most suitable for such, given its socio-cultural analyses across international borders and organisations. Research limitations/implications Several themes are suggested as fertile future research avenues. These themes identify gaps in existing knowledge but, more importantly, also problematize prevailing views that IB scholars tend to hold about women and gender. The future research themes suggest that the very context of IB signifies the need for systematic gender analysis which might advance current understanding of women specifically and gender, more broadly, in the IB field. Originality/value This paper makes a salient and timely contribution to the IB field in providing an original, erstwhile unexamined critique of the marginal reflection on women and gender within extant IB research.

#MeToo will sustain demands for US corporate diversity

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Workplace Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Sector ◽  
Corporate Diversity ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Central Pillar ◽  
Ethnicity And Gender

Significance That turned the eleven-year-old MeToo movement into a central pillar of a broader drive in the United States to address gender, race and social inequality. Since then, the technology sector has become a bit more hospitable to women but still has much to do on employment and workplace culture. Impacts COVID-19 has stalled some of the momentum to #MeToo reforms. The tech sector's persistent poor gender diversity potentially hurts industry competitiveness. Few US states have yet extended sexual harassment protections to cover race, ethnicity and gender identity.

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