Gender as Management Capital: An Experimental Exploration

This study investigates whether female superiors can be considered a form of management capital. To explore this, our research question is: Do female superiors receive higher compliance with management directives from their subordinates than male superiors? Using a survey experiment with Nepalese civil servants ( n = 858), the study finds that compliance with managerial directives is higher when the superior is female. This effect may be influenced by the differing attitudes typically associated with male and female superiors (agentic vs. communal). The research reveals gender dynamics among subordinates, showing that female subordinates are more reluctant to comply with male superiors compared to male subordinates. However, their willingness to comply increases when the request comes from a female superior. This variation may stem from female subordinates perceiving male superiors as less considerate than female superiors, particularly when assigning tasks such as carrying out inspections in remote hilly areas.