How Adding Women to the Top Management Team Contributes to the Company’s Strategy and Performance: a Qualitative Study of Sri Lankan Corporate Sector
Uluwitike Gamage, Yasoda Methmalee (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202403134350
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202403134350
Tiivistelmä
The inclusion of women in top management teams has been widely discussed in the modern corporate world. Although numerous studies have investigated the topic in a global context, there has been limited research conducted in Sri Lanka, particularly from a qualitative standpoint. This study aims to illuminate this area, thereby fostering gender diversity in Sri Lankan top management teams for the right reasons.
This study investigates the impact of gender diversity in top management and the various qualitative dimensions of female executives' contributions to the strategy and performance of Sri Lankan corporates. It also explores decision-making variations among male and female executives, their impact on organizational outcomes, and identifies factors supporting successful female leadership.
Previous studies have explained the impact of gender diversity using multiple concepts including upper echelon’s theory, signalling theory, status characteristics theory, social psychological theory, human capital theory, gender theory, resource dependence theory, broken rung, glass ceiling, and glass cliff. These lenses form the basis for the theoretical framework of the study.
The research utilizes the grounded theory approach for data collection and analysis. It samples top management team members with experience collectively in 28 organizations representing diverse sectors in the Sri Lankan corporate landscape such as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Retail, Leisure, IT & Telecommunication, and Manufacturing.
The study finds that in the respondents’ experience, women in top management make significant contributions to Sri Lankan corporates. Females excel in empathy, attention to detail, multitasking, adaptability, and intuition although they are weaker in areas of negotiation and networking, and more risk averse compared to their male counterparts. While both genders share similarities in professionalism, creativity, openness and trust, women bring in unique perspectives, enhancing board balance. Expertise, education, and effective networking boost women's resourcefulness. Emotional regulation, adaptability to masculine traits, and organizational culture play crucial roles in women reaching top management.
This study investigates the impact of gender diversity in top management and the various qualitative dimensions of female executives' contributions to the strategy and performance of Sri Lankan corporates. It also explores decision-making variations among male and female executives, their impact on organizational outcomes, and identifies factors supporting successful female leadership.
Previous studies have explained the impact of gender diversity using multiple concepts including upper echelon’s theory, signalling theory, status characteristics theory, social psychological theory, human capital theory, gender theory, resource dependence theory, broken rung, glass ceiling, and glass cliff. These lenses form the basis for the theoretical framework of the study.
The research utilizes the grounded theory approach for data collection and analysis. It samples top management team members with experience collectively in 28 organizations representing diverse sectors in the Sri Lankan corporate landscape such as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Retail, Leisure, IT & Telecommunication, and Manufacturing.
The study finds that in the respondents’ experience, women in top management make significant contributions to Sri Lankan corporates. Females excel in empathy, attention to detail, multitasking, adaptability, and intuition although they are weaker in areas of negotiation and networking, and more risk averse compared to their male counterparts. While both genders share similarities in professionalism, creativity, openness and trust, women bring in unique perspectives, enhancing board balance. Expertise, education, and effective networking boost women's resourcefulness. Emotional regulation, adaptability to masculine traits, and organizational culture play crucial roles in women reaching top management.