Events

Upcoming seminar: Krisztina Timko (University of Helsinki)

Abstract:

We study the effect of gender and the effect of the selection process on leader effectiveness in laboratory experiments using the ‘weak link’ coordination game. Participants can volunteer for the leader position, and one of the volunteers is selected to be the leader. Leaders can send non-binding text messages (suggestions of a certain effort level) towards their followers before all group members make their decisions. We reveal the gender of the leader. The treatment variation consists of whether the leader is randomly selected or elected by group members. Our main finding is that groups with elected leaders coordinate on higher effort levels. Under the election condition, male leaders are more effective than their female counterparts. However, the election effect outweighs the gender effect. Our findings underline the importance of employee participation in choosing group leaders. We also find that organizations might benefit from reconsidering their gender imbalance in top-level positions.