eThesis - School of Business electronic theses

Stemming from the Austrian economics view on competition and particularly its idea of the temporality of competitive advantage, this study combines the theories of hypercompetition, competitive dynamics and upper echelons perspective. With a theoretical framework composed of these streams of research, this study investigates the link between top management team (TMT) gender diversity and competitive advantage within business environments with varying degrees of dynamism. Using a survey-based sample of 96 Finnish companies, this study empirically demonstrates that TMT gender diversity has a direct effect on the competitive aggressiveness of the firm. Furthermore, it is demonstrated the technological turbulence in the business environment has a positively moderating effect on the relationship between TMT gender diversity and competitive aggressiveness. Thereby this study contributes to the research stream of upper echelons perspective and competitive dynamics by underlining the important role of TMT gender diversity as a component in the overall TMT dynamics. A contribution is also made to the literatures of hypercompetition and competitive dynamics by offering an exhaustive outlook underlining two-fold relationship of TMT gender diversity and competitive aggressiveness.