Relating gender diversity in top management positions and innovation: Evidence from seven countries in Latin America

Abstract

Gender Diversity in organizations is attracting a significant degree of attention from multiple sectors in the LAC region. One of the reasons for its relevance is the lack of consensus about its true impact on organizational performance indicators. At best, there are conflicting and inconclusive results. In order to better understand the relationship between gender diversity and innovation in LAC, this chapter presents a comparative study with data of the World Bank Enterprise Survey from seven Latin American countries. The chapter suggests that the association between the participation of women in management positions and organizational performance in general—and in Latin America and the Caribbean in particular—remains a topic of diversity and inclusion that requires further research.