How Can Companies Promote Innovation with Diverse Employees?
WHY SHOULD COMPANIES USE DIVERSE TEAMS TO PROMOTE INNOVATION? WHY DO DIVERSE TEAMS OFTEN PRODUCE BETTER RESULTS? THE CASE OF FEMALE IT PATENTING - CAUSE FOR CONCERN; INDICATIONS OF HOPE |
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Furthermore, female patenting rates vary widely across companies. Some companies have produced large increases in female patenting rates, while these rates have decreased approximately 4-6% in many other companies, with some companies showing as much as 25% fewer female or mixed-gender patents. This evidence suggests that company practices can have a substantial effect on the rates of diverse innovation.
Several studies illuminate potential reasons for the low rates of female patenting (Murray & Graham, 2007). For example, women tend to judge their accomplishments more harshly than do men, leading them to believe their work is unworthy of patenting. Furthermore, women experience discrimination in assignment of work tasks, being assigned to lower profile projects less likely to produce patentable products. Addressing these conditions is important if companies are to benefit from diverse innovation.
References
- Ashcraft, C. & Breitzman, A. (2007). Who Invents IT? An Analysis of Women’s Participation in Information Technology Patenting (NCWIT). Executive summary available at http://www.ncwit.org/pdf/PatentExecSumm.pdf
- London Business School (2007). Innovative Potential: Men and Women in Teams. Executive summary available at http://www.london.edu/assets/documents/Word/Innovative_Potential_NOV_2007.pdf
- Murray, F. & Graham, L. (2007). Buying science and selling science: Gender differences in the market for commercial science. Industrial and Corporate Change, (16) 4, 657-689.
- Page, S. (2007). The difference: How the power of diversity helps create better groups, firms, schools, and societies. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
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Author: Catherine Ashcraft