Influence of task-related diversity of R&D employees on the development of organisational innovations: a gender perspective
ISSN: 1754-2413
Article publication date: 20 November 2023
Issue publication date: 12 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse the influence of workforce diversity on the firm’s likelihood to develop organisational innovations. Operationalising human resources diversity is not straightforward, and its effect has been rather overlooked in the context of non-technological innovations. This study analyses the impact of task-related diversity among research and development (R&D) unit workers and women R&D workers, in particular.
Design/methodology/approach
To estimate the impact of task-related diversity on firm propensity to undertake organisational innovation, this study uses a generalised linear model (GLM) – with a binomial family and log–log extension. GLMs are used to control problems of over-dispersion, which, in models with binary response variables, could generate inaccurate standard error estimates and provide inconsistent results.
Findings
This paper provides three important results. Firstly, employee diversity increases the firm’s propensity to engage in organisational innovations. Secondly, the influence of each facet of task-related diversity varies depending on the type of organisational innovation considered. Thirdly, gender has an effect on the innovation process; this study shows that women play a different role in the production of non-technological innovations.
Originality/value
This paper makes several contributions to the literature. Firstly, it makes a theoretical contribution to research on innovation management by considering the influence of human resources diversity on the development of non-technological innovations. Secondly, this study analyses the role of workforce diversity in an R&D department context to clarify the contribution made by women R&D workers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Associate Editor, Adelina Broadbridge, and the anonymous reviewers for their excellent advice and constructive feedback throughout the review process. The authors acknowledge funding and support from the projects: EURECA-PRO: The European University on Responsible Consumption and Production and the Grant PID2022-137379NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”.
Citation
Testera Fuertes, A. and Herrera, L. (2024), "Influence of task-related diversity of R&D employees on the development of organisational innovations: a gender perspective", Gender in Management, Vol. 39 No. 4, pp. 552-572. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-06-2023-0208
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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