Board's gender diversity and international entrepreneurship: intensity versus quality?

Abstract

PurposeAn increased globalisation pushes forward the study of international entrepreneurship that however has been mainly analysed at a macro-environmental and an individual level. The authors want instead identify the determinants of international entrepreneurship from a firm-level perspective, specifically in relation to the key decision-making entity – the board of directors. The authors focused on the overall composition of the board of directors in terms of gender diversity and how this affects multi-subject decision-making when it comes to international entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachBased on entrepreneurial decision-making and the neo-institutional theory, the authors analyse the relationship between gender diversity in boards of directors and firms' international entrepreneurship, assessing how state ownership and ownership concentration moderate this relationship. Using a sample made up of China's listed companies from 2009 to 2018, the authors empirically test the main effect and the moderating effects.FindingsInternational entrepreneurship is less prevalent in firms with more female directors, but in terms of quality of the decisions, these boards perform better. State ownership and ownership concentration can strengthen and weaken the relationship between the presence of female directors and the intensity of international entrepreneurship, respectively.Originality/valueFirstly, the authors draw attention to the implications of gender diversity in boards of directors, calling for further studies on communication and collaboration patterns within multi-subject decision-making. Secondly, the authors’ conclusions enrich academic literature on female directors by exploring the roles they play in firms' decision-making when it comes to international entrepreneurship.

Timing the transition: gender diversity’s role in family IPOs

“…, 2022), it does not necessarily imply a negative impact. Instead, in line with previous scholars (Wang et al. , 2022), we demonstrate that female directors cautious approach can lead to more thoughtful and high-quality decisions, even if it means a prolonged decision-making process.…”

The impact of social network support on opportunity intention among prospective male and female entrepreneurs during 2019-nCov pandemic

“…However, this study shows that the mediation effect of PEU varies among prospective male and female entrepreneurs. Comparatively, women rely more on their social network due to greater conservativeness and risk aversion (Bird and Brush, 2002; Yordanova and Boshnakova, 2011; Wang et al. , 2022).…”

“…However, this study shows that the mediation effect of PEU varies among prospective male and female entrepreneurs. Comparatively, women rely more on their social network due to greater conservativeness and risk aversion (Bird and Brush, 2002;Yordanova and Boshnakova, 2011;Wang et al, 2022). On average, they consider information and risks broadly and generally and consider a wider array of uncertainties, whereas men engage in more selective information processing, with more perceived opportunities and fewer uncertainties (Emami, 2017).…”

“…It is also expected that the entrepreneurial judgment complications of crisis-borne PEU will be stronger for women on average due to women's comparative conservativeness and risk aversion (Bird and Brush, 2002;Yordanova and Boshnakova, 2011;Wang et al, 2022), as well as their comparatively greater substantial reliance on their social network for information and emotional support. For instance, a social network may draw more attention to the challenges and issues of a decision, adding to doubt and uncertainty (Rafaeli and Gleason, 2009).…”

Corporate governance in international new ventures and born global firms

“…For example, gender diversity on boards has captured only recent attention in IE. Wang et al (2022) investigated the relationship between gender diversity in boards of directors and firms’ IE, assessing how state ownership and ownership concentration moderate this relationship. Future studies could examine the number of women on the board as well as the optimal degree of gender diversity and the ways in which it enhances INVs/BGs performance and survival in host markets.…”