Sending Signals From Above

Abstract

Gender diversity at the top echelons of the firm may provide strong signals to foster diversity inside the organization. This chapter aims to contribute to the lack of studies based on complementary factors of board diversity, as they may build a potential exemplary roadmap within the same context. It seeks to understand whether sets of determinants whose combination may lead to making boards diverse in excess of the norm and steering the organization to the pursuit of the goal. Thus, the authors study different blends of variables such as size, public scrutiny, board independence, board size, proportion of proprietary directors, and diversity at the senior management of the firm, showing different paths to achieve diversity at the board. The authors employ a qualitative comparative methodology to study possible joint casual relations paving the way to diversity in Spanish-listed firms comparing changes over four years.