Abstract
Firm performance is heavily influenced by characteristics of leadership executives. The literature on top management teams has identified gender differences as determinant of firm strategy. Gender also plays a role in the process of adoption of technology which in turn influences performance. Female board members, tend to be associated with fewer takeover bids, and lower bidding premiums and are also related to stock market liquidity of firms. Females on board of family firms has positive impacts on their performance, compared to those with only male elements. Many of these studies, however, are based on untested assumptions on gender differences, particularly females. While female run businesses are less likely to induce the process of innovation, evidence suggests that it is not the presence of females that positively contribute to firm performance through promotion of innovative behaviors rather it is the gender culture that facilitates elevated levels of innovation in firms. Female executives are better at capturing productivity signals from other females in the organization and can thus revert firm costs when only males are tasked with executive duties. It appears that gender issues are constantly pitting genders add odds with each other rather than considering the complimentary roles they can play. As a consequence, scholars fail to acknowledge how the assumptions made towards, particularly women, may sway results. It is for this reason that investigating gender influence in businesses may benefit from a change of scenery, where gender issues may be pronounced in a different way, such as islands.
Presenters
Guido RojerAssistant Professor, University of Curaçao Dr. Moises da Costa Gomez, Curacao
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Community Diversity and Governance
KEYWORDS
International Entrepreneurship, Small Island Economies, Firm Characteristics, JEL Codes
