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Accidental activists: headhunters as marginal diversity actors in institutional change towards more women on boards
Author(s) -
Doldor Elena,
Sealy Ruth,
Vinnicombe Susan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
human resource management journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.44
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1748-8583
pISSN - 0954-5395
DOI - 10.1111/1748-8583.12107
Subject(s) - institutional change , framing (construction) , diversity (politics) , agency (philosophy) , accidental , organizational change , institutional theory , intentionality , diversity management , field (mathematics) , sociology , political science , public relations , public administration , social science , epistemology , law , geography , philosophy , physics , mathematics , archaeology , acoustics , pure mathematics
We present a qualitative study that examines the role of headhunters as actors in a broader institutional change process aiming to increase gender diversity on corporate boards. We draw on institutional and diversity management theories to conceptualise their change agency in the broader field of women on boards. We describe their role as ‘accidental activists’ and theorise two micro‐processes that define their change agency in this field: voluntaristic framing of intentionality and role redefinition by drawing on competing logics. This conceptualisation does not match the heroic image of the institutional entrepreneur driving institutional change, or that of the tempered radical championing diversity, but rather casts light into a marginal and previously neglected change role. We demonstrate the opportunistic and precarious nature of this role with regard to both institutional change and diversity management and discuss its possibilities and perils.