Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange

High profile scandals in US and other emerging economies as well as the recent global financial crisis have enhanced global interest on the topic of corporate governance. The scandals have drawn attention to the functioning and weakness of corporate boards and companies are trying to improve their c...

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Main Author: Walanju, Kishore
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2012
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/25650/
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author Walanju, Kishore
author_facet Walanju, Kishore
author_sort Walanju, Kishore
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description High profile scandals in US and other emerging economies as well as the recent global financial crisis have enhanced global interest on the topic of corporate governance. The scandals have drawn attention to the functioning and weakness of corporate boards and companies are trying to improve their corporate governance. Among the areas targeted for improvement by companies include gender diversity on corporate boards. Gender diversity is one of the measures by which companies are using to achieve their targets in areas such as transparency, increasing shareholders value, corporate board performance and representing stakeholders. Gender diversity on corporate boards is considered a social issue as well as value driver in company strategy. India is an emerging economy in the world and public listed companies are major contributors in development. Therefore effective functioning of corporate boards is important in enhancing better corporate governance in India. The objective of this study was to examine gender diversity on corporate boards of Indian companies. This includes representation of woman on corporate boards of Indian companies. Besides, the study examined barriers and enablers of women representation on corporate boards of India at the same time it investigated the impact of UNGC code in inclusion of women on corporate boards in India. The finding of study reveals that the level of women representation on corporate boards in India is very low and far from adequate. Besides, the study established no significant difference in women representation on corporate boards of BSE 100 and UNGC signatory companies. This study concludes that UNGC as an enabler has not fully acted as a catalyst for women inclusion on corporate boards of India, suggesting that the more needs to be done by the UNGC network in India. Moreover, the study examined barriers and found that Tokenism in top management and Old boy networks are the most prominent barriers to women to women representation on corporate boards. The findings show that competency serves as an effective enabler in corporate practices. Besides, enablers such as Ministry of Corporate affairs, Ministry of Women and Child development, National commission for women and the Securities and Exchange Boards of India (SEBI) are silent to implement the principle of gender equality as enshrined in constitution of India. However, existence of the provision of gender equality in the constitution provides legal foundation for special laws to enhance women representation on corporate boards in India.
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spelling nottingham-256502022-03-21T16:10:14Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/25650/ Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange Walanju, Kishore High profile scandals in US and other emerging economies as well as the recent global financial crisis have enhanced global interest on the topic of corporate governance. The scandals have drawn attention to the functioning and weakness of corporate boards and companies are trying to improve their corporate governance. Among the areas targeted for improvement by companies include gender diversity on corporate boards. Gender diversity is one of the measures by which companies are using to achieve their targets in areas such as transparency, increasing shareholders value, corporate board performance and representing stakeholders. Gender diversity on corporate boards is considered a social issue as well as value driver in company strategy. India is an emerging economy in the world and public listed companies are major contributors in development. Therefore effective functioning of corporate boards is important in enhancing better corporate governance in India. The objective of this study was to examine gender diversity on corporate boards of Indian companies. This includes representation of woman on corporate boards of Indian companies. Besides, the study examined barriers and enablers of women representation on corporate boards of India at the same time it investigated the impact of UNGC code in inclusion of women on corporate boards in India. The finding of study reveals that the level of women representation on corporate boards in India is very low and far from adequate. Besides, the study established no significant difference in women representation on corporate boards of BSE 100 and UNGC signatory companies. This study concludes that UNGC as an enabler has not fully acted as a catalyst for women inclusion on corporate boards of India, suggesting that the more needs to be done by the UNGC network in India. Moreover, the study examined barriers and found that Tokenism in top management and Old boy networks are the most prominent barriers to women to women representation on corporate boards. The findings show that competency serves as an effective enabler in corporate practices. Besides, enablers such as Ministry of Corporate affairs, Ministry of Women and Child development, National commission for women and the Securities and Exchange Boards of India (SEBI) are silent to implement the principle of gender equality as enshrined in constitution of India. However, existence of the provision of gender equality in the constitution provides legal foundation for special laws to enhance women representation on corporate boards in India. 2012 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/25650/1/KISHORE_MGMT_PROJECT_FINAL_MBA.pdf Walanju, Kishore (2012) Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)
spellingShingle Walanju, Kishore
Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange
title Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange
title_full Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange
title_fullStr Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange
title_full_unstemmed Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange
title_short Gender diversity in Corporate Governance: A study of the largest listed companies in Bombay Stock Exchange
title_sort gender diversity in corporate governance: a study of the largest listed companies in bombay stock exchange
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/25650/