Title: Board gender diversity and strategic change in high-tech firms: evidence from an emerging economy

Authors: Abubakr Saeed; Syed Shafqat Mukarram

Addresses: Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Park Road, 44000, Pakistan ' Department of Management Sciences, University of Wah, Quaid Avenue, Cantt, Wah, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of board gender diversity on strategic change in high-tech industries which are associated with high propensity of competition and uncertainty. A sample of 60 Indian high-tech firms listed on the National Stock Exchange over the period of 2008-2014 is used. First-difference generalised method of moment (GMM) estimation technique is applied for data analysis. Using upper echelon and social identity theories, results reveal that women directors positively affect strategic change in high-tech firms and their industry expertise further strengthens this relationship. Our study offers new insight to managers and policy makers that strategic involvement of women directors enables boards to deal effectively with industry environmental changes in high-tech firms, suggesting that women directors' contribution in board strategy is contingent upon the industry of the firm.

Keywords: women directors; strategic change; high-tech sector; industry expertise.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2022.123220

European Journal of International Management, 2022 Vol.17 No.4, pp.611 - 631

Received: 13 May 2018
Accepted: 30 Apr 2019
Published online: 06 Jun 2022 *

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