TY - JOUR
T1 - Gendering Corporate Boards and Conditional Effectiveness of Board Processes
T2 - Insights from a Sub-Saharan African Country
AU - Damoah, Obi Berko O.
AU - Lamptey, Yvonne Ayerki
AU - Anlesinya, Alex
AU - Tetteh, Barbara Naa Amanuah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 International Management Institute, New Delhi.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - This study explored how and when female board members make effective contribution to board processes in a sub-Saharan African country (Ghana), a context characterized by low female representation on corporate boards, but highly under-researched with respect to the gender and corporate governance literature. The study is based on interview data from 25 female board directors in Ghana. The results show that women on corporate boards contribute to effective board processes and outcomes when their proposed ideas during board meetings are accepted by other board members, implemented by management and impact positively on organizational outcomes such as enhanced financial, product and staff outcomes. These effective contributions of female board directors to corporate board processes can further be enhanced by suitable female directors’ personal-level conditions such as their human capital (advanced degree and professional qualification, and past board membership experience) and family support (supportive husbands, and having grown up children), as well as board-level conditions like occupying chairperson/leadership position on the board or committees, and regular attendance at board meetings. Consequently, this research study contributed to the gender and corporate governance literature by providing new evidence from under-researched geographical context on how women on corporate boards contribute to effective board processes. It further highlights personal and board-level conditions that are necessary for greater contributions of female directors to corporate board processes and outcomes in male-dominated societies and boards.
AB - This study explored how and when female board members make effective contribution to board processes in a sub-Saharan African country (Ghana), a context characterized by low female representation on corporate boards, but highly under-researched with respect to the gender and corporate governance literature. The study is based on interview data from 25 female board directors in Ghana. The results show that women on corporate boards contribute to effective board processes and outcomes when their proposed ideas during board meetings are accepted by other board members, implemented by management and impact positively on organizational outcomes such as enhanced financial, product and staff outcomes. These effective contributions of female board directors to corporate board processes can further be enhanced by suitable female directors’ personal-level conditions such as their human capital (advanced degree and professional qualification, and past board membership experience) and family support (supportive husbands, and having grown up children), as well as board-level conditions like occupying chairperson/leadership position on the board or committees, and regular attendance at board meetings. Consequently, this research study contributed to the gender and corporate governance literature by providing new evidence from under-researched geographical context on how women on corporate boards contribute to effective board processes. It further highlights personal and board-level conditions that are necessary for greater contributions of female directors to corporate board processes and outcomes in male-dominated societies and boards.
KW - Gender
KW - Ghana
KW - Sub-Saharan Africa
KW - corporate board effectiveness
KW - corporate board process
KW - corporate governance
KW - women on corporate boards
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113686061&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/09721509211036271
DO - 10.1177/09721509211036271
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85113686061
SN - 0972-1509
JO - Global Business Review
JF - Global Business Review
ER -