The impact of women’s representation on performance in project-based and non-project-based organizations

Abstract

Project-based organizations face challenges of increasing skill shortages and risks of reducing competitiveness and performance. Leveraging female talent can improve organizational competitiveness and outcomes. Drawing on the resource-based view of the firm and contingency theory, we predict that the impact of women in management on organizational performance will be stronger in project-based organizations than in non-project-based organizations. Using a sample of 932 private organizations and a longitudinal research design, this paper presents pioneering insights into the impact of women’s representation on organizational performance in project-based organizations. The results help refine the positive findings of past research and identify the moderating effect of industry type on the benefits of women’s representation on organizational performance. The relationship between women in management and organizational performance was positive in project-based organizations. For practitioners, the findings suggest that project-based organizations may need to consider how they increase their innovative capacity and address gender imbalances to capitalize on gender diversity benefits for organizational outcomes.