Board gender diversity, critical masses, and organizational problems of non-profit sport clubs

Abstract

Research question: This study examines the effect of board gender diversity and a critical mass of women on the board on organizational problems of non-profit sport clubs. It relies on theories from social categorization and information/decisionmaking perspectives and on critical mass theory. Research methods: Four waves of data from a German sport club panel (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015); n = 6504) are used which allow analyzing causal effects with lagged variables. Gender diversity was measured with the share of women on the board, the Blau index, and the number of women on the board. The perceived severity of human resource, financial, facility, and development problems represent the dependent variables. Results and findings: The results of regression analyses show that board gender diversity significantly reduces human resource and financial problems. Human resource problems are even smallest in clubs with an overbalanced board (≥60% women), while facility problems are perceived as bigger in such clubs. The results provided evidence for critical masses of one or at least three women for reducing human resource problems and of at least four women for perceiving bigger facility problems. Development problems are not impacted by board gender diversity or critical masses. Implications: The findings for human resource and financial problems support the information/decision-making perspective, suggesting that board gender diversity benefits the organization because of diversity in resource access, human and social capital, and improved quality of decision-making. Thus, increasing gender diversity of the board can be a way to reduce problems in these areas.

The Paradox of Gender Diversity, Organizational Outcomes, and Recruitment in the Boards of National Governing Bodies of Sport

“…Two competing theoretical perspectives, social categorization perspective and the information/decision-making perspective, have guided most of the studies on gender and organizational outcomes (Lee and Cunningham 2019;Nowy and Breuer 2019;Wicker et al 2020).…”

“…Previous studies have cited contradicting results on whether diversity has a positive or negative result on organizational results in (sport) organizations (Dula et al 2020;Lee and Cunningham 2019;Milliken and Martins 1996;Wicker et al 2020). For instance, studies have found gender diversity to decrease organizational problems (Wicker and Breuer 2013;Wicker et al 2012Wicker et al , 2020 and increase organizational outcomes owing to, for instance, learning from others, role modelling, idea generation (Cunningham 2008), and higher decision-making and problem-solving capabilities (Lee and Cunningham 2019).…”

“…The literature has often focused on explaining the reasons for the under-representation of women (see, e.g., Burton and Leberman (2017) for a review within sport management). Furthermore, studies have considered, for instance, the impact of gender and diversity on organizational outcomes (e.g., Adriaanse and Schofield 2014;Gaston et al 2020; Lee and Cunningham 2019;Park 2020;Suzuki and Avellaneda 2018;Wicker et al 2020), as well as board selection processes (e.g., Elling et al 2019;Hoye and Cuskelly 2007;Stenling et al 2020). Previous studies have also given evidence that the recruitment processes in sports leadership are gendered; that is, only certain types of people possessing certain (masculine) traits and qualities are seen as a proper 'fit' for the organization boards (e.g., Adriaanse and Schofield 2014;Claringbould and Knoppers 2007;Hovden 2000).…”

(Not) being granted the right to belong—Amateur football clubs in Germany

“…However, empirical studies show that members of sports clubs do not come equally from all parts of the population. Women, older adults and low wage earners are less likely to be members of clubs or volunteers (Hartmann-Tews, 2006;Haut and Emrich, 2011;Nobis and El-Kayed, 2019;Wicker et al, 2020). Furthermore, the following findings are often cited: (a) the underrepresentation of firstand second-generation immigrants in sports clubs is more prevalent in female than in male sports; (b) immigrant male adolescents report membership in clubs just as much as their non-immigrants peers; (c) participation rates of firstand second-generation immigrants are higher in football and martial arts than in other sports; and (d) other sport activities (e.g.…”

Critical Masses and Gender Diversity in Voluntary Sport Leadership: The Role of Economic and Social State-Level Factors

“…In the leisure sports sector, only a few studies have investigated the impact of board gender diversity or critical masses of women on economic sustainability. Sport organizations with a critical mass of three women on the board were found to have fewer financial problems [15] and generate higher revenues [16].…”