GENDER PERSPECTIVE IN MANAGEMENT: THE ISRAELI CASE OF TOP MANAGEMENT TEAMS

This paper presents a theoretical framework for a program of research in the Israeli context designed to elucidate the nature of women's involvement in top management teams (TMTs), notably boards of directors, while examining the antecedents and outcomes of the internal TMT processes. The investigation focuses on what actually happens in upper echelon teams, attempting to explain the underlying mechanisms driving the dynamics within the "black box", underscoring implicit power relations and shadow negotiation between female and male members. Findings of a preliminary study point at overt structural elements, such as underrepresentation of women in top management teams. Moreover, implicit aspects of women's involvement in upper echelons of organizations also emerged, notably, subtle silencing of their voices and communal features of their participation. Future research directions are delineated, emphasizing an international-comparative perspective on gender in top management teams in different national, socio-political, cultural and economic contexts and using mixed-and multi-source format.