Chapter 5 Organizational interventions towards achieving gender equality at the corporate top

Purpose – The aim of this chapter is twofold: (1) to identify gender equality organizational interventions implemented by a selected number of Dutch companies to increase the number of women at the corporate top; and (2) to identify how these interventions overcome barriers to women’s advancement and contribute to more women at the corporate top.

Design – A comparative case study method was applied through conducting qualitative research. The research was conducted at four large Dutch companies.

Findings – The research identified 23 organizational interventions that were classified in four categories. The cross-case analysis focuses on specific themes, such as the type of interventions, the identified barriers, the successfulness of the interventions, and factors contributing to increasing the number of women at the corporate top. The research shows that top level commitment to this topic is important for the success of interventions and for increasing the number of women at the corporate top and throughout the rest of the organization. Some of the barriers could be overcome by the interventions identified.

Practical implications – This research provides companies with better insight into the quality, quantity and successfulness of gender equality organizational interventions implemented by Dutch companies and can assist them in deciding which interventions they could implement in order to achieve gender equality within their own organizations.

Originality – The research provides in-depth insight into the types and number of implemented gender equality organizational interventions and into the results of such interventions.

Key words: Gender equality, organizations, interventions, barriers, women’s underrepresentation