scholarly journals Gender Diversity as the Antidote to ‘Groupthink’ on Corporate Boards

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Akshaya Kamalnath
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Professional Background ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
Board Decision Making ◽  
Significant Question

Gender diversity on corporate boards has become a point of emphasis, to the exclusion of all other forms of diversity. This paper analyses whether board gender diversity might help boards overcome groupthink (i.e. the failure of board members to consider alternatives to the dominant view when making decisions). This is a significant question because the board is reponsible for governance of the company and groupthink is often cited as a hurdle to effectively performing this role. Thus, the paper first examines the role of the board, board decision-making processes and the problem of groupthink, and subsequently, the potential of gender diversity to overcome groupthink. It concludes that gender diversity on corporate boards might help overcome groupthink so long as the women directors are also independent and bear ‘outsider’ status. However, other forms of diversity like race, education, tenure, professional background etcetera might offer the same benefits and thus should not be overlooked.

scholarly journals Board gender diversity and environmental, social and governance performance of US banks: moderating role of environmental, social and corporate governance controversies

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hassan Shakil ◽  
Mashiyat Tasnia ◽  
Md Imtiaz Mostafiz
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Omitted Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dynamic Panel Regression ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

PurposeGender diversity in corporate boards is broadly studied in existing corporate governance literature. However, the role of board gender diversity on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of the banks is still unaccounted for. Drawing on resource dependence and legitimacy theory, this study addresses this pressing research issue. Moreover, investigation of ESG controversies as a moderator paves the existing corporate governance research to the new avenues.Design/methodology/approachData were sourced from Refinitiv database on 37 US banks from the period of 2013 to 2017. This study employs static and dynamic panel regression models that include random effects, fixed effects and dynamic generalised method of moments (GMMs) to test the hypotheses. Furthermore, system GMM is used to reduce the issue of endogeneity, measurement error, omitted variables bias and bank-specific heterogeneity.FindingsWe identify a significant positive relationship between board gender diversity and the ESG performance of US banks. However, the result propounds non-significant moderating effect of ESG controversies on the board gender diversity–ESG performance nexus.Originality/valueLiterature on board gender diversity and ESG separately and predominantly explains firm/bank's financial performance. This study is one of the pioneering attempts to explain the role of board gender diversity on ESG performance. Although incremental, however, this study also contributes to the literature on ESG in the US context.

scholarly journals Does Board Gender Diversity Affects Dividend Payout? Evidence from a review of literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (16) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Emma Anuar ◽  
Rozainun Abdul Aziz ◽  
Maslinawati Mohamad ◽  
Rugayah Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Publishing House ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Board Composition ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this paper is to review the literature on how board gender diversity impacts dividend payout among public listed companies in Malaysia. Traditionally, higher-level management positions are held by men. Leadership and decision making are predominantly male, while the minority are women directors. When corporate boards show diversity, there is a significant presence of women or the addition of women to the board. In the past, present, and indeed the future, board gender diversity is the issue that is a growing trend and is getting more attention. The shareholders and investors are putting pressure on the boards of directors’ to show increased performance. The findings from this paper will provide evidence on whether board gender diversity influences the dividend payout. Board composition without gender discrimination is the new normal for corporations to thrive after the global lockdowns from Covid-19. Other relevant matters on the impact of board gender diversity will also be discussed.Keywords: board gender diversity; board characteristics; board composition; board traits; female directors; dividend payout; MalaysiaeISSN: 2514-7528 © 2020 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/jabs.v5i16.350

scholarly journals Towards realization of Board Gender Diversity in Deposit Taking SACCOs in Kenya: A critical review and synthesis

2021 ◽  
pp. 172-182
Author(s):  
Dr Jackline Akoth Odero ◽  
Prof. Robert Egessa
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Legal Compliance ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
Board Decision Making

Corporate boards play a critical strategic role in charting the direction and performance of organizations. Such entities ought to embrace diversity since this influences work relations and performance through offering greater perspectives from different lenses on business issues, opportunities as well as wider scope of ideas and solutions. Board gender diversity is ubiquitous as it is the most debated diversity issue in firms. Guidelines and/or mandatory laws have been enacted by several countries including Kenya, to enhance gender diversity on company boards so as to eradicate the existing social and labor grievances that women have been experiencing. Female representation in company boards still remains far from the desired levels despite the enactment of these laws. This study’s main purpose was to recapitulate and critically review literature on board gender diversity. The paper interrogated the importance of board gender diversity, the laws touching on gender diversity issues and empirically reviewed literature on board gender diversity and performance. The study used secondary data. The paper posits that board gender diversity is a driver of organizational performance as well as a way of bolstering inclusivity of both genders on boards thus fulfilling legal expectations. The paper recommends that it is indispensable for Deposit Taking SACCOs to consider gender diversity when electing persons to boards if such entities hope to enrich board decision making, risk management, innovative thinking and competitiveness as well as enhance legal compliance.

scholarly journals Gender Diversity on Corporate Boards – A Study of NSE Listed Companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Present Status ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
The Relationship

The aim of this study is to examine gender diversity on boards of a sample of NIFTY 50 companies listed on NSE during the year 2012-13. It showed the present status of representation of women on board of directors. A literature review on how women directors bring economic and financial benefits to any organization was also undertaken in order to present the strong case for gender diversity. The relationship between gender diversity on boards and various characteristics of companies such as the size, profits, sales and age was also found. This study found that on an average 56% of the companies had at least one woman on their board but 32% companies have only male boards. Total no of directors on nifty index are 592 out of which 41 positions are held by women directors. It is recommended that companies should review their policies with respect to appointments of board of directors. Even women should also be encouraged to aspire to become board members.

scholarly journals Political connections and banking performance: the moderating effect of gender diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Proença ◽  
Mário Augusto ◽  
José Murteira
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Political Connections ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of board gender diversity in explaining the effects of board members’ political connections on banking performance in the Eurozone. Design/methodology/approach This paper analyses panel data on 83 banks supervised by the European Central Bank (ECB) for the period 2013–2017, using a generalized moment method-type estimation methodology. Findings Results suggest that when gender diversity is high, there is a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between political connections and banking performance. Empirical evidence also indicates that differentiating characteristics of women, such as greater ethical concern and risk aversion, help mitigate the negative effects of political connections on banking performance, safeguarding the institutions’ interests from the adverse effects of personal agendas. In addition, these results also suggest that a minimum of 14% of gender diversity can contribute to greater social justice and beneficial structural change. Research limitations/implications The period studied may not yet fully reflect the impact of the assessment of the board members’ suitability. Practical implications The paper contributes to the growing literature on political connections and gender diversity, providing greater insight into their role as determinants of banking performance. The study also suggests the benefits and possible limitations of the regulator’s two impositions – gender diversity quotas and members’ repute (members’ political connections). Originality/value The effect of gender diversity on the impact of board members’ political connections on banking performance has not been studied, as these relationships have not been analysed separately for banks directly supervised by the ECB.

scholarly journals Women on bank boards and risk-taking: A cross-countries analysis on the moderating role of masculinity

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Gallucci ◽  
Rosalia Santulli ◽  
Riccardo Tipaldi
Keyword(s):  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
Ideal Worker ◽  
Moderating Role ◽  
The Ideal

This study examines the effects of board gender diversity on a bank’s risk by applying a moderate multiple regression analysis on a dataset covering the years 2008-2017 and comprising 110 banks from Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Masculinity, a country-level cultural dimension incorporating the behavioural expectations surrounding men and women in a society, is used as a moderator. Results suggest that high country-level masculinity stresses the risk-aversion of a bank’s women directors, therefore compromising financial performance. To mitigate the negative effects of high country-level masculinity, this paper provides several suggestions. First, banks should change their stereotypical depiction of the “ideal worker”. Second, banks should question the cultural motives underpinning the entrance of women directors in the “boy’s club”. Last, banks should create a more egalitarian workplace where the distribution of rewards does not strengthen the privileges of the established elites.

scholarly journals Institutional quality and the capital structure of microfinance institutions: the moderating role of board gender diversity

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Michael Adusei ◽  
Beatrice Sarpong-Danquah
Keyword(s):  
Capital Structure ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Institutional Quality ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Female Representation ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract We test the effect of institutional quality on capital structure in the microfinance setting. In doing this, we rely on data from 532 microfinance institutions (MFIs) located in 73 countries dotted across the six microfinance regions in the world. We observe that institutional quality exhibits a robust negative and statistically significant relationship with capital structure in both the short and long run, implying that MFIs in countries with a better institutional environment are less likely to utilize more debt. Our moderation analysis furnishes us with evidence that the presence of women on the board of an MFI significantly moderates the relationship between institutional quality and its capital structure. We show that in the presence of more female representation on the boards of MFIs, the tendency of MFIs using less debt is higher.

scholarly journals Presence of Women on Board: Reference to BSE-30 Companies from 2010-2014

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-30
Author(s):  
Nisa S
Keyword(s):  
Boards Of Directors ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Global Workforce ◽  
Talent Pool ◽  
Women Employees ◽  
Board Performance ◽  
Changing Demographics

The need for gender diversity in the board rooms is getting accepted at corporate levels both national and international. Any change which is brought about voluntarily is more effective and long lasting. Gender representation on corporate boards of directors refers to the proportion of men and women who occupy board member positions. Studies have shown that even though there is no real dearth of talent pool, India, comparatively, has significantly a very low percentage of women representation on boards. No one doubts the importance of diversity in boardrooms, especially in improving corporate governance. With the changing demographics of the global workforce and the fact that women will control 75% of discretionary spending by 2028, globally companies cannot underestimate the importance of improving the gender balance on their boards. Women are increasingly becoming a major driver of the economy, both as contributors and as customers; it is appropriate that they be a part of the team leading companies. Past researches have shown that boards with more women members act as a motivator to other women employees within the organization. Continuing reliance on existing directors is likely to dilute the quality of board members. Broadening the talent pool by including women directors will help boards get skilled and competent members with a diversity of perspectives and leadership styles who can significantly contribute to board performance. The following study was conducted to assess the presence of women on board in BSE 30 listed companies from 2010 to 2014.

Private firm performance: do women directors matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahnoor Sattar ◽  
Pallab Kumar Biswas ◽  
Helen Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Small Firm ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Private Firm ◽  
Private Firms ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Firm Profitability ◽  
Board Gender Diversity

Purpose This paper aims to examine the relationship between board gender diversity and private firm performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors test the association between board gender diversity and private firm performance by estimating pooled multivariate regressions using an unbalanced panel data set of 115,253 firm-year observations. Findings The authors find that younger, less busy and local women directors enhance private firm performance. Firms with 40% or more women directors report triple the economic benefits compared to boards with at least 20% women directors. Considering firm size, women directors significantly increase small firm profitability, and the effect is more pronounced for high-risk firms. Greater board gender diversity enhances small firm performance as the monitoring role of women directors benefits the firm even in the presence of busy men directors. Consistent with the agency theory framework, the authors find that women directors improve small firm profitability in the presence of agency costs. Research limitations/implications Due to the lack of availability of data about private firms, many factors are not directly observable. The analysis uses accounting-based performance measures that may be subject to managerial discretion. Nevertheless, the authors report highly significant results using cash-based performance measures that substantiate the overall findings. Practical implications The results of the present study point to the need for private firms to increase board gender diversity and consider women director busyness, age, nationality and firm size when making board director appointments. Originality/value This study adds to the scarce existent literature investigating private firms. The results contribute to the understanding of gender-diverse boards as well as the attributes of women directors that enhance private firm performance.

Do women on corporate boardrooms influence remuneration patterns and socially responsible practices? Malaysian evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitara Karim
Keyword(s):  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Executive Directors ◽  
Women Directors ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Upper Echelons Theory ◽  
Board Gender Diversity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe prime objective of this study is to investigate the moderating influence of executive and independent female directors on the relationship between remuneration packages (CEO and executive director) and socially responsible practices (marketplace, environment, community, workplace and money spent on CSR) of 483 Malaysian listed firms during 2006–2017.Design/methodology/approachThe dynamic estimator, namely, system generalized method of moments (GMM) given by Blundell and Bond (1998) has been employed on the dataset to control dynamic endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity and simultaneity problems.FindingsFindings indicate that there is a significant relationship between remuneration patterns of CEOs and executive directors and socially responsible activities. In the same way, executive board gender diversity significantly, whereas independent board gender diversity insignificantly moderates the remuneration and CSR nexus.Practical implicationsThis study is particularly significant for regulatory bodies of Malaysia, e.g. Securities Commission Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, policy makers, investors and managers. For academia, this study fetches support from agency theory, stakeholder theory and upper echelons theory and presents integrated theoretical approach to be considered for future research.Originality/valueThis paper is unique in providing empirical evidence on the moderating effect of both executive and independent women directors on the relationship between remuneration patterns of CEOs and executive directors and independent CSR activities for the first time. Moreover, this study has sourced several theoretical and practical implications. And, the study employs dynamic estimator for precise and concrete results.

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