Title: Gender diversity and innovative performance

Authors: Laure Turner

Addresses: Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), 18 boulevard Adolphe Pinard – 75 675, Paris, Cedex 14 – France

Abstract: This paper aims to empirically assess the impact of gender diversity on innovative performance, specifically research and development (R&D) in companies, in exploring the business case for gender diversity. The study|s originality lies in isolating the specific effect of gender diversity on innovative performance from the effects of other forms of diversity, particularly in terms of age, nationality, status and seniority. The results show that the innovative performance of both individuals and teams would be increased by more gender balance at the team level. Another finding is that women are over-represented in some domains and on projects that are not designed to be major contributors to the performance of the activity under study, which has a measurable cost in terms of performance. Two factors of success for businesses and science are allowing more women to take an active part in core R&D and developing appropriate diversity management strategies within research teams.

Keywords: gender diversity; innovative performance; innovation; sustainable development; sustainability; research and development; R&D; gender balance; diversity management strategies; research teams; female researchers; women in research; female representation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2009.028067

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2009 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.123 - 134

Published online: 03 Sep 2009 *

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