Selecting Board Members: The Impact of Common Knowledge on Gender Diversity – An Experimental Investigation. (20th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galia, Fabrice; Lentz, Frank; Max, Sylvain; Sutan, Angela; Zenou, Emmanuel
• Is Part Of: Managerial and decision economics. Volume 38:Number 6(2017)
• Page Start: 806
• Page End: 821
• Publication Date: 2016-06-20
• Subjects: Managerial economics -- Periodicals; Decision making -- Periodicals; Management -- Periodicals; 658.15
• DOI: 10.1002/mde.2818
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-6570

Abstract

Abstract : Using a corporate governance experiment, we explore the role of common knowledge of diversity on board members' selection. Our results show that common knowledge of diversity impacts significantly and negatively the proportion of women selected on boards and in a higher proportion in sectors perceived as 'masculine'. We also bring evidence of an order effect that makes the selection of men on boards likelier for the first chosen members. This bias is stronger for male decision makers. This article provides implications and directions for future research for the understanding of decision making involved in the selection process for board members. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.