Gender diversity and its impact on high-tech SMEs’ organizational leadership

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to empirically identify the relationship between gender diversity and organizational leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

A multifactor questionnaire, Form 6-S, developed by Bass and Avolio (1992), is used to measure leadership. The results are derived from univariate and multivariate analyses conducted through ordinary least square linear regression. This study uses a base consisting of 142 small and medium enterprises in Cali (Colombia); men manage 111 of which, whereas women manage 31. The data came from a project performed by the Humanism and Management research group of the Administration Sciences Department of Valley University (Universidad del Valle). Fieldwork was conducted between November 2013 and April 2014.

Findings

The results show that companies with greater gender diversity (mostly women on the board of directors and in management) develop a transformational organizational style orientated towards organizational change through the transformation of followers.

Originality/value

There is no previous study combining these variables in Colombian context.

Citation

Garcia-Solarte, M., Garcia-Perez de Lema, D. and Madrid-Guijarro, A. (2018), "Gender diversity and its impact on high-tech SMEs’ organizational leadership", Gender in Management, Vol. 33 No. 6, pp. 499-523. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-03-2017-0031