Significant proportion of executives ‘doubt value of gender diversity’

RA Now

Boardroom gender diversity could lead to conflict and indecision, leading nearly a third of senior executives surveyed to question the importance of ensuring a proportion of women are employed at the highest level in companies.

Thirty per cent of Executives Online’s Global Talent Bank that were surveyed believed there are potential downsides to gender diversity in the boardroom, including conflict (11%); indecision (9%); blockages (8%); and lack of direction (7%).

However, 35% of respondents believe that a major benefit of gender diversity in the boardroom is broader visionary thinking, and 18% think better governance is possible with more women on companies’ boards. Other benefits cited are more innovation (17%) and better risk management (14%).

“These figures show that there are clearly still a significant number of senior executives who don’t support the theory that gender diversity in the boardroom is good for business,” said James O’Brien, managing director of Executives Online.

“This comes at a time when gender diversity is a hotly debated issue and the number of females in top executive roles is still low, having dropped from 6.7% to 5.8% internationally [according to Cranfield School of Management.]”

Three quarters of respondents believe appointments of women to senior executive roles can be achieved without quotas, citing mentoring and guidance of high-potential women and increased availability of flexible working arrangements as possible alternatives for raising the female headcount in the boardroom.

“The majority of those opposed to quotas express concerns that important positions may be awarded to women despite there being better qualified male candidates,” O’Brien added. “They believe that candidates should always be appointed on merit alone.”