Abstract
This chapter addresses the question of how digital transformation is related to leadership and gender equality. The literature argues that people-oriented, transformational leadership is the key to employee innovativeness and digital transformation success. Existing research supports the finding that women often engage in more committed and effective leadership than men, especially in exercising a more people-oriented, transformational leadership. Following these arguments, we theorize that women leaders are associated with a higher level of digital transformation. We gathered data from reliable international sources (e.g., the UN, EU, and OECD) to investigate the linkage. Based on the regression analysis, we find that countries with a high proportion of women in mid- to upper-level management positions tend to have a higher level of digital technology integration in their businesses and more sophisticated ICT tasks performed by women at work, even after controlling for the general size of each country’s economy, productivity, R&D intensity, human capital, and general level of gender equality. Japan is behind in digital technology integration in businesses compared to other developed countries and has the lowest ratio of women business leaders, while fewer Japanese women work in tasks that require a high level of digital skills. Our analysis suggests that if Japan were to improve gender equality in leadership positions, its digital economy performance would be comparable to that of other developed countries. An implication is that Japanese firms have yet to fully utilize the high-quality human capital that women represent, which may deter its digital transformation advancement.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Acker J (1990) Hierarchies, jobs, bodies: a theory of gendered organizations. Gend & Soc 4:139–158
Adams RB, Ferreira D (2009) Women in the boardroom and their impact on governance and performance. J Financ Econ 94(2):291–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2008.10.007
Ali M, Grabarski MK, Konrad AM (2021) Trickle-down and bottom-up effects of women’s representation in the context of industry gender composition: a panel data investigation. Hum Resour Manag 60:559–580. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.22042
AlNuaimi BK, Kumar Singh S, Ren S, Budhwar P, Vorobyev D (2022) Mastering digital transformation: the nexus between leadership, agility, and digital strategy. J Bus Res 145:636–648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.03.038
Antonakis J, Bendahan S, Jacquart P, Lalive R (2010) On making causal claims: a review and recommendations. LeadShip Q 21(6):1086–1120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2010.10.010
Bass BM (1985) Leadership and performance beyond expectations. Free Press
Bass BM (1990) From transactional to transformational leadership: learning to share the vision. Organ Dyn 18(3):19–32. https://www.mcgill.ca/engage/files/engage/transformational_leadership_bass_1990.pdf
Battilana J, Gilmartin M, Sengul M, Pache AC, Alexander JA (2010) Leadership competencies for implementing planned organizational change. LeadShip Q 21(3):422–438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2010.03.007
Charlot S, Crescenzi R, Musolesi A (2015) Econometric modelling of the regional knowledge production function in Europe. J Econ Geogr 15(6):1227–1259. https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbu035
Chen R, Tong JY, Zhang F (Frank), Zhou G (Stephen) (2021) Do female directors enhance R&D performance? Int Rev Econ Financ 74(November 2020):253–275.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2021.03.003
Cortellazzo L, Bruni E, Zampieri R (2019) The role of leadership in a digitalized world: a review. Front Psychol 10(August):1–21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01938
Dezsö CL, Ross DG (2012) Does female representation in top management improve firm performance? a panel data investigation. Strat Manag J 33(9):1072–1089. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.l955
Eagly AH (2007) Female leadership advantage and disadvantage: resolving the contradictions. Psychol Women Q 31:1–12
Eagly AH, Johannesen-Schmidt MC, Van Engen ML (2003) Transformational, transactional, and Laissez-Faire leadership styles: a meta-analysis comparing women and men. Psychol Bull 129(4):569–591. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.4.569
Eagly AH, Karau SJ (2002) Role congruity theory of prejudice toward female leaders. Psychol Rev 109(3):573–598. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.109.3.573
European Comission (2020) The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). https://digital-agenda-data.eu/datasets/desi
Ferreira JJM, Fernandes CI, Ferreira FAF (2019) To be or not to be digital, that is the question: firm innovation and performance. J Bus Res 101:583–590. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBUSRES.2018.11.013
Fiorina C (2011) Tough choices: a memoir. Hachette UK
Foley P, Sutton D, Potter R, Patel S, Gemmell A (2020) International Digital Economy and Society Index 2020. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/i-desi-2020-how-digital-europe-compared-othermajor-world-economies
Frankiewicz B, Chamorro-Premuzic T (2020) Digital transformation is about talent, not technology. Harv Buisness Rev (pp 2–6)
Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office (2020) 男女共同参画白書 令和2年版
Griliches Z (1979) Issues in assessing the contribution of research and development to productivity growth. Bell J Econ 10(1):92–116. https://about.jstor.org/terms
Hillman AJ, Cannella AA, Harris IC (2002) Women and racial minorities in the boardroom: how do directors differ? J Manag 28(6):747–763
Hinings B, Gegenhuber T, Greenwood R (2018) Digital innovation and transformation: an institutional perspective. Inf Organ 28(1):52–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoandorg.2018.02.004
Jiang Y, Chen CC (2018) Integrating knowledge activities for team innovation: Effects of transformational leadership. J Manag 44(5):1819–1847. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316628641
Kanter RM (1977) Men and women of the corporation. Basic Books
Kent TW, Blair CA, Rudd HF, Schuele U (2010) Gender differences and transformational leadership behavior: Do both German men and women lead in the same way? Int J LeadShip Stud 6(1):52–66
Khare A, Khare K, Baber WW (2020) Why Japan’s digital transformation is inevitable. Transforming Japanese business (pp 3–14). Springer, Singapore
Kim D, Starks LT (2016) Gender diversity on corporate boards: Do women contribute unique skills? Am Econ Rev 106(5):267–271. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.p20161032
Kyoto University Gender Equality Promotion Center (2021) 数字で見る女性研究者. https://www.cwr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/support/research/statistics/
Legood A, van der Werff L, Lee A, Den Hartog D (2021) A meta-analysis of the role of trust in the leadership- performance relationship. Eur J Work Organ Psychol 30(1):1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2020.1819241
Matsunaga M (2021) Testing the theory of communication and uncertainty management in the context of digital transformation with transformational leadership as a moderator. Int J Bus Commun. https://doi.org/10.1177/23294884211023966
McKinsey Digital Japan (2021) Using digital transformation to thrive in Japan’s new normal: an urgent imperative. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/locations/asia/japan/ourwork/digital/usingdigitaltransformationtothriveinjapansnewnormal_anurgentimperative_upd201223.pdf
Miller T, Triana MDC (2009) Demographic diversity in the boardroom: mediators of the board diversity-firm performance relationship. J Manag Stud 46(5):755–786. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2009.00839.x
Ministry of Health L and W (2015) Press Release. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/04-Houdouhappyou-11902000-Koyoukintoujidoukateikyoku-Koyoukintouseisakuka/kakusoku2.pdf
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (2022) 令和3年版 情報通信白書
Nemoto K (2016) Too few women at the top: the persistence of inequality in Japan. Cornell University Press
Nambisan S, Wright M, Feldman M (2019) The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: progress, challenges and key themes. Res Policy 48(8):103773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2019.03.018
Nemoto K (2022) Revisiting Japan’s stakeholder-based system and foreign ownership: IR managers’ view of foreign shareholders in corporate governance reform in Japanese companies. Corp Gov. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-04-2022-0152
Nihon Keizai Shinbun (2021) Thirty percent increase in female executives, 4 September
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2018) Bridging the digital gender divide: include, upskill, innovate. OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2020) OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2020. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/bb167041-en
Philip J (2021) Viewing digital transformation through the lens of transformational leadership. J Organ Comput Electron Commer 31(2):114–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/10919392.2021.1911573
Powell GN, Butterfield DA, Bartol KM (2008) Leader evaluations: a new female advantage? Gend Manag: Int J 23(3):156–174. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542410810866926
Rich M (2019, December 8) At Japan’s most elite university, just 1 in 5 students is a woman. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/08/world/asia/tokyo-university-women-japan.html
Saint-Michel SE (2018) Leader gender stereotypes and transformational leadership: Does leader sex make the difference? Manag 21(3):944–966
Shire K, Nemoto K (2020) The origins and transformations of conservative gender regimes in Germany and Japan. Soc Polit: Int Stud Gend, State & Soc 27(3):432–448
Siangchokyoo N, Klinger RL, Campion ED (2020) Follower transformation as the linchpin of transformational leadership theory: a systematic review and future research agenda. LeadShip Q 31(1):101341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2019.101341
Torchia M, Calabrò A, Huse M (2011) Women directors on corporate boards: from tokenism to critical mass. J Bus Ethics 102(2):299–317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0815-z
Trinidad C, Normore AH (2005) Leadership and gender: a dangerous liaison? LeadShip Organ Dev J 26(7):574–590. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730510624601
van Knippenberg D, Sitkin SB (2013) A critical assessment of charismatic—transformational leadership research: back to the drawing board? Acad Manag Ann 7(1):1–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/19416520.2013.759433
Verhoef PC, Broekhuizen T, Bart Y, Bhattacharya A, Qi Dong J, Fabian N, Haenlein M (2021) Digital transformation: a multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. J Bus Res 122:889–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022
Wang Z, Gagné M (2013) A chinese-canadian cross-cultural investigation of transformational leadership, autonomous motivation, and collectivistic value. J LeadShip Organ Stud 20(1):134–142. https://doi.org/10.1177/1548051812465895
Watts LL, Steele LM, Den Hartog DN (2020) Uncertainty avoidance moderates the relationship between transformational leadership and innovation: a meta-analysis. J Int Bus Stud 51(1):138–145. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-019-00242-8
Weber E, Büttgen M, Bartsch S (2022) How to take employees on the digital transformation journey: an experimental study on complementary leadership behaviors in managing organizational change. J Bus Res 143(January):225–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.01.036
World Bank (2022) Female share of employment in senior and middle management (%). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.SMGT.FE.ZS
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Onozaka, Y., Nemoto, K. (2023). Digital Transformation, Leadership, and Gender Equality: Are They Related?. In: Khare, A., Baber, W.W. (eds) Adopting and Adapting Innovation in Japan's Digital Transformation. Economics, Law, and Institutions in Asia Pacific. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0321-4_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0321-4_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-0320-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-0321-4
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)