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Women in management and sustainable development of SMEs : Do relational environmental management instruments matter ?

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Scientific literature on the relationship between gender diversity in management and sustainability of large companies has produced mixed results. Whether and how gender diversity stimulates the sustainable development of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has not yet been researched. We hypothesize that having more women in management positions improves the sustainability of SMEs, because this encourages the use of relational environmental management instruments. Small business literature has shown this type of instrument to be more effective in improving the sustainability of SMEs than bureaucratic management instruments. We test the model on a sample of 3,663 European SMEs and find support for this hypothesis. However, the effect is nonlinear and sustainability reaches its maximum when the proportion of women managers is 54%. The management implication is that SMEs can improve their sustainability by a gender balanced management team.

Source: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management

DOI: 10.1002/csr.1966

Author: Johan Graafland

Institution: Tilburg University

Language: English

Topic: Gender Diversity and Inequality

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000