IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i16p6575-d398844.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does Gender Diversity Affect Performance in Agri-Food Cooperatives? A Moderated Model

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Meliá-Martí

    (CEGEA. Universitat Politècnica de València. Camino de Vera, s/n, 46023 Valencia, Spain)

  • Guillermina Tormo-Carbó

    (CEGEA. Universitat Politècnica de València. Camino de Vera, s/n, 46023 Valencia, Spain)

  • Juan Francisco Juliá-Igual

    (CEGEA. Universitat Politècnica de València. Camino de Vera, s/n, 46023 Valencia, Spain)

Abstract

Existing research about the relationship between gender diversity and performance in cooperatives is not conclusive. In view of this reality, this paper aims firstly to analyse the effectiveness of gender diversity and equality management systems (GDMS) in promoting gender diversity in the decision-making bodies (GDDB) as well as in the performance of agri-food cooperatives. Secondly, the objective is to establish the relationship between GDDB and performance, and subsequently, to analyse the moderating effect of GDDB on three of the business strategies adopted by cooperatives in order to achieve competitive advantages: Integration strategies, internationalisation strategies, and environmental concern, based on a survey carried out in 2018 using a sample of 2489 Spanish agri-food cooperatives. A moderation analysis was conducted to test the proposed model and hypotheses. The results obtained confirm a positive relationship between the implementation by cooperatives of GDMS and GDDB. The relationship between GDMS, GDDB, and performance was not significant. The moderating effect of GDDB was only statistically significant in the case of export intensity (EI) and environmental concern (EC), although, contrary to expectations, this effect was negative, meaning that the impact of both strategies on performance becomes more apparent as GDDB is reduced.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Meliá-Martí & Guillermina Tormo-Carbó & Juan Francisco Juliá-Igual, 2020. "Does Gender Diversity Affect Performance in Agri-Food Cooperatives? A Moderated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-27, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6575-:d:398844
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/16/6575/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/16/6575/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bochra Idris & George Saridakis, 2020. "Women directors and exporting activity: The moderating role of network advice," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 9(2), pages 106-113.
    2. Jonas Gabrielsson & Morten Huse, 2004. "Context, Behavior, and Evolution: Challenges in Research on Boards and Governance," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(2), pages 11-36, January.
    3. Bernard, Andrew B. & Bradford Jensen, J., 1999. "Exceptional exporter performance: cause, effect, or both?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 1-25, February.
    4. Mariateresa Torchia & Andrea Calabrò & Morten Huse, 2011. "Women Directors on Corporate Boards: From Tokenism to Critical Mass," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 102(2), pages 299-317, August.
    5. Punita Bhatt Datta & Robert Gailey, 2012. "Empowering Women through Social Entrepreneurship: Case Study of a Women's Cooperative in India," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(3), pages 569-587, May.
    6. Joachim Wagner, 2016. "Exports and Productivity: A Survey of the Evidence from Firm Level Data," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Microeconometrics of International Trade, chapter 1, pages 3-41, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    7. Adams, Renée B. & Ferreira, Daniel, 2009. "Women in the boardroom and their impact on governance and performance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 291-309, November.
    8. Ali, Muhammad & Konrad, Alison M., 2017. "Antecedents and consequences of diversity and equality management systems: The importance of gender diversity in the TMT and lower to middle management," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 440-453.
    9. Lori M. Hunter & Alison Hatch & Aaron Johnson, 2004. "Cross‐National Gender Variation in Environmental Behaviors," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 85(3), pages 677-694, September.
    10. Fabrice Galia & Emmanuel Zenou & Marc Ingham, 2015. "Board composition and environmental innovation: does gender diversity matter?," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 24(1), pages 117-141.
    11. Albert Park & Dean Yang & Xinzheng Shi & Yuan Jiang, 2010. "Exporting and Firm Performance: Chinese Exporters and the Asian Financial Crisis," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 92(4), pages 822-842, November.
    12. Andres, Pablo de & Vallelado, Eleuterio, 2008. "Corporate governance in banking: The role of the board of directors," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 2570-2580, December.
    13. Natalia P. MONTEIRO & Odd Rune STRAUME, 2018. "Are Cooperatives More Productive Than Investor-Owned Firms? Cross-Industry Evidence From Portugal," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 89(2), pages 377-414, June.
    14. Kevin Campbell & Antonio Mínguez-Vera, 2008. "Gender Diversity in the Boardroom and Firm Financial Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 83(3), pages 435-451, December.
    15. Sofronis K. Clerides & Saul Lach & James R. Tybout, 1998. "Is Learning by Exporting Important? Micro-Dynamic Evidence from Colombia, Mexico, and Morocco," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 113(3), pages 903-947.
    16. Joachim Wagner, 2006. "Exports, foreign direct investment, and productivity: evidence from German firm level data," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(6), pages 347-349.
    17. Bae, Kwang Bin & Skaggs, Sheryl, 2019. "The impact of gender diversity on performance: The moderating role of industry, alliance network, and family-friendly policies – Evidence from Korea," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(6), pages 896-913, November.
    18. David A. Matsa & Amalia R. Miller, 2013. "A Female Style in Corporate Leadership? Evidence from Quotas," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 5(3), pages 136-169, July.
    19. Galbreath, Jeremy, 2011. "Are there gender-related influences on corporate sustainability? A study of women on boards of directors," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(1), pages 17-38, January.
    20. Lerman, Zvi & Parliament, Claudia, 1991. "Estimating the Accounting Profitability of Pooling Cooperatives," Journal of Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics Association of Georgia, vol. 9(2), pages 1-9.
    21. David D. Trechter, 1996. "Impact of diversification on agricultural cooperatives in Wisconsin," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(4), pages 385-394.
    22. Sourafel Girma & Avid Greenaway & Richard Kneller, 2004. "Does Exporting Increase Productivity? A Microeconometric Analysis of Matched Firms," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(5), pages 855-866, November.
    23. Jasper Grashuis, 2018. "An Exploratory Study of Cooperative Survival: Strategic Adaptation to External Developments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, February.
    24. Carman, James M., 1997. "Federated Structures for Cooperative Growth," Journal of Cooperatives, NCERA-210, vol. 12, pages 1-23.
    25. Lee, In Hyeock & Paik, Yongsun & Uygur, Ugur, 2016. "Does Gender Matter in the Export Performance of International New Ventures? Mediation Effects of Firm-specific and Country-specific Advantages," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 365-379.
    26. John Hagedoorn & Jos Schakenraad, 1994. "The effect of strategic technology alliances on company performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(4), pages 291-309, May.
    27. Maurizio Zollo & Jeffrey J. Reuer & Harbir Singh, 2002. "Interorganizational Routines and Performance in Strategic Alliances," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(6), pages 701-713, December.
    28. Anup Agrawal & Charles R. Knoeber, "undated". "Firm Performance and Mechanisms to Control Agency Problems between Managers and Shareholders (Revision of 29-94)," Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research Working Papers 08-96, Wharton School Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research.
    29. Ioanna Boulouta, 2013. "Hidden Connections: The Link Between Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Social Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 113(2), pages 185-197, March.
    30. Baysinger, Barry D & Butler, Henry N, 1985. "Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors: Performance Effects of Changes in Board Composition," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 101-124, Spring.
    31. Randi Lunnan & Sven A. Haugland, 2008. "Predicting and measuring alliance performance: a multidimensional analysis," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 545-556, May.
    32. Yermack, David, 1996. "Higher market valuation of companies with a small board of directors," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 185-211, February.
    33. Corinne Post & Noushi Rahman & Cathleen McQuillen, 2015. "From Board Composition to Corporate Environmental Performance Through Sustainability-Themed Alliances," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 423-435, August.
    34. Michael L. Cook, 1995. "The Future of U.S. Agricultural Cooperatives: A Neo-Institutional Approach," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 77(5), pages 1153-1159.
    35. Chimhundu, Ranga & McNeill, Lisa S. & Hamlin, Robert P., 2015. "Manufacturer and retailer brands: Is strategic coexistence the norm?," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 49-60.
    36. Perryman, Alexa A. & Fernando, Guy D. & Tripathy, Arindam, 2016. "Do gender differences persist? An examination of gender diversity on firm performance, risk, and executive compensation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 579-586.
    37. Thomas Dyllick & Kai Hockerts, 2002. "Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(2), pages 130-141, March.
    38. Wilson Kong & Amran Harun & Rini Suryati Sulong & Jaratin Lily, 2014. "The Influence of Consumers Perception of Green Products on Green Purchase Intention," International Journal of Asian Social Science, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 4(8), pages 924-939, August.
    39. MCarmen Martínez†Victoria & Narciso Arcas Lario & Mariluz Maté Sánchez Val, 2018. "Financial behavior of cooperatives and investor†owned firms: An empirical analysis of the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 456-471, March.
    40. George Kassinis & Alexia Panayiotou & Andreas Dimou & Georgia Katsifaraki, 2016. "Gender and Environmental Sustainability: A Longitudinal Analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(6), pages 399-412, November.
    41. Nuria Reguera-Alvarado & Pilar Fuentes & Joaquina Laffarga, 2017. "Does Board Gender Diversity Influence Financial Performance? Evidence from Spain," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 141(2), pages 337-350, March.
    42. Christy Glass & Alison Cook & Alicia R. Ingersoll, 2016. "Do Women Leaders Promote Sustainability? Analyzing the Effect of Corporate Governance Composition on Environmental Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(7), pages 495-511, November.
    43. Barbara Orser & Martine Spence & Allan Riding & Christine A. Carrington, 2010. "Gender and Export Propensity," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(5), pages 933-958, September.
    44. Anup Agrawal & Charles R. Knoeber, "undated". "Firm Performance and Mechanisms to Control Agency Problems between Managers and Shareholders (Revision of 29-94)," Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research Working Papers 8-96, Wharton School Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research.
    45. Jasmin Joecks & Kerstin Pull & Karin Vetter, 2013. "Gender Diversity in the Boardroom and Firm Performance: What Exactly Constitutes a “Critical Mass?”," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 61-72, November.
    46. Diamantopoulos, Adamantios & Schlegelmilch, Bodo B. & Sinkovics, Rudolf R. & Bohlen, Greg M., 2003. "Can socio-demographics still play a role in profiling green consumers? A review of the evidence and an empirical investigation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(6), pages 465-480, June.
    47. Raymond Guillouzo & Philippe Ruffio & . European Science Foundation & Jerker Nilsson & Kostas Karantininis, 2004. "Strategic alliances : Challenges and limits for Agri-Food cooperatives," Post-Print hal-02306164, HAL.
    48. Seles, Bruno Michel Roman Pais & Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Ana Beatriz & Jabbour, Charbel Jose Chiappetta & Latan, Hengky & Roubaud, David, 2019. "Do Environmental Practices Improve Business Performance Even in an Economic Crisis? Extending the Win-Win Perspective," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 189-204.
    49. Darren Hudson & Cary W. Herndon, 2002. "Factors influencing probability and frequency of participation in merger and partnership activity in agricultural cooperatives," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(2), pages 231-246.
    50. Agrawal, Anup & Knoeber, Charles R., 1996. "Firm Performance and Mechanisms to Control Agency Problems between Managers and Shareholders," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 31(3), pages 377-397, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Marcos Carchano & Inmaculada Carrasco & Ángela González, 2024. "Eco‐innovation and environmental performance: Insights from Spanish wine companies," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 595-623, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mozas-Moral, Adoración & Fernández-Uclés, Domingo & Medina-Viruel, Miguel Jesús & Bernal-Jurado, Enrique, 2021. "The role of the SDGs as enhancers of the performance of Spanish wine cooperatives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Aruoriwo Marian Chijoke-Mgbame & Agyenim Boateng & Chijoke Oscar Mgbame, 2020. "Board gender diversity, audit committee and financial performance: evidence from Nigeria," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 262-286, July.
    3. Lorenzo Ardito & Rosa Maria Dangelico & Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli, 2021. "The link between female representation in the boards of directors and corporate social responsibility: Evidence from B corps," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(2), pages 704-720, March.
    4. Vincenzo Scafarto & Federica Ricci & Elisabetta Magnaghi & Salvatore Ferri, 2021. "Board structure and intellectual capital efficiency: does the family firm status matter?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(3), pages 841-878, September.
    5. Nguyen, Thi Hong Hanh & Ntim, Collins G. & Malagila, John K., 2020. "Women on corporate boards and corporate financial and non-financial performance: A systematic literature review and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    6. Pallab Kumar Biswas & Larelle Chapple & Helen Roberts & Kevin Stainback, 2023. "Board Gender Diversity and Women in Senior Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 177-198, January.
    7. Paola Belingheri & Filippo Chiarello & Andrea Fronzetti Colladon & Paola Rovelli, 2021. "Twenty years of gender equality research: A scoping review based on a new semantic indicatorr," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-27, September.
    8. Khwaja Naveed & Cosmina L. Voinea & Zahid Ali & Fawad Rauf & Cosmin Fratostiteanu, 2021. "Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Social Performance in Different Industry Groups: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-15, March.
    9. Simona Galletta & Sebastiano Mazzù & Valeria Naciti & Carlo Vermiglio, 2022. "Gender diversity and sustainability performance in the banking industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 161-174, January.
    10. Sanjukta Brahma & Chioma Nwafor & Agyenim Boateng, 2021. "Board gender diversity and firm performance: The UK evidence," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 5704-5719, October.
    11. Komath, Muhammed Aslam Chelery & Doğan, Murat & Sayılır, Özlem, 2023. "Impact of corporate governance and related controversies on the market value of banks," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    12. Emma García-Meca & M. Camino Ramón-Llorens & Jennifer Martínez-Ferrero, 2024. "Feminine expertise on board and environmental innovation: the role of critical mass," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(8), pages 2255-2286, August.
    13. Laura Cabeza-García & Esther B. Brío & Carlos Rueda, 2021. "The moderating effect of innovation on the gender and performance relationship in the outset of the gender revolution," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 755-778, April.
    14. Darmadi, Salim, 2010. "Do Women in Top Management Affect Firm Performance? Evidence from Indonesia," MPRA Paper 38743, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Akshita Arora, 2022. "Gender diversity in boardroom and its impact on firm performance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(3), pages 735-755, September.
    16. Paul B. McGuinness & João Paulo Vieito & Mingzhu Wang, 2020. "Proactive government intervention, board gender balance, and stakeholder engagement in China and Europe," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 719-762, September.
    17. Anil Kumar & Narander Kumar Nigam & Kirtivardhan Singh, 2020. "Do Women Directors Impact Financial Outcomes? The Indian Evidence," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 13(2), pages 119-139, December.
    18. Isabel-María García-Sánchez, 2010. "The effectiveness of corporate governance: board structure and business technical efficiency in Spain," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 18(3), pages 311-339, September.
    19. Yunyi Li & Charl de Villiers & Lina Zixuan Li & Leye Li, 2022. "The moderating effect of board gender diversity on the relation between corporate social responsibility and firm value," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 109-143, March.
    20. Giuliana Birindelli & Antonia Patrizia Iannuzzi & Marco Savioli, 2019. "The impact of women leaders on environmental performance: Evidence on gender diversity in banks," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(6), pages 1485-1499, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6575-:d:398844. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.