Micro-political strategies in negotiating the role of women's networks in organizations
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
ISSN: 2040-7149
Article publication date: 11 October 2023
Issue publication date: 13 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The authors aim to contribute to current knowledge on women's networks in organizations by exploring the strategies employed by members of women's networks, Human Resources (HR) management and senior line management to negotiate the role of these networks in their organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors employ the theoretical perspective of micro-politics to analyze qualitative data they collected in an action research project using open-ended interviews and participant observation. The interviews were conducted with network board and active members, and members of their organizations' HR departments and senior management. Participant observation of the interviewees' interactions took place during facilitated workshops.
Findings
Adding to the literature, the authors find that members of the different parties employ different micro-political strategies. Many senior HR and management members demand that the networks' activities contribute to the organizations' diversity aims and bottom line. They largely avoid strategic cooperation with the networks. Most network members, in turn, resist the restricted role of the networks as an instrument to realize their organizations' business case. They claim some freedom to independently decide on the networks' strategies and activities. They resist being attributed tasks and responsibilities that they consider to reside with their organizations. Moreover, they try to sustain cooperative relationships with senior HR and management in an advisory role.
Originality/value
The action research approach enabled the authors to contribute to existing knowledge and extend the micro-politics theoretical perspective to include the collective agency of members of organizational groups and cooperation between these groups.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors received an external grant for their action research project from the Nederlandse Stichting voor Psychotechniek, NSvP (https://www.innovatiefinwerk.nl) as well as a financial contribution for the workshops from the networks/organizations that participated in the project. The authors sincerely thank the three anonymous reviewers and the associate editors for their helpful comments on this paper. In addition, much appreciated comments and help on earlier drafts were provided by Nusi Cornelissens, Carolin Ossenkop, Margot Verleg, Dorian Woods, Nicolle Zeegers, Simone van Zolingen and, in particular, Claudia Groβ.
Citation
Gremmen, I. and Benschop, Y.W.M. (2024), "Micro-political strategies in negotiating the role of women's networks in organizations", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 283-299. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-11-2022-0326
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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