Emerald Management Review:
The road to the class cliff: differences in the perceived suitability of men and women for leadership positions in succeeding and failing organizations

Abstract:

Purpose - To investigate the glass cliff phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach - Suggests that there are important differences in the types of leadership positions that men and women hold; highlights how previous research has discovered that for those companies that appointed men to their boards of directors, the share price was relatively stable (before and after appointment) while companies that appointed a woman had experienced consistently poor performance in the months preceding the appointment. Highlights how women were, therefore, appointed to positions that were more risky and precarious; described as 'glass cliff' appointments. Outlines three studies that sought to explore whether the glass cliff is a robust phenomenon; to clarify the causal structure of relationships between gender and company performance and to investigate the psychological processes associated with the phenomenon of the glass cliff.

Findings - Reports that all of the studies found that women were more likely to gain a leadership position in organizations that were in crisis and had an increased risk of failure; puts forward how women were regarded as being more suitable for a glass cliff position than an identically qualified male candidate.

Research limitations/implications - Presents a future research agenda.

Originality/value - Provides evidence of decision making processes that can contribute to the creation of glass cliffs.

Keywords:

Article Type:

Research paper

Reference:

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