This research project focuses on the development of a model of cost-benefit effects of gender and diversity-related measures. The main idea is to analyze the innovation ability of technology-intensive organizations. At first, relevant, already existing economic models for the evaluation of diversity measures at the organizational level are evaluated to determine their ability to measure economic outcomes. As a result, causality relations are derived, which will help to demonstrate the cost-benefit effects of gender and diversity measures at the company level.

The following research questions are the result of this process:

• Which causalities between gender and diversity measures and cost-benefit measures can be assumed from an econometric model?

• How can the relations be functionally operationalized?

• Which rationalization potential results from this for Austrian organizations?

The result is therefore a mathematic model which specifies the relations between gender and diversity measures and cost-benefit effects.

Project leader: Univ.Prof.in.Dr.in. Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger

Junior Researcher: Mag. Thomas Köllen

Contractor: Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft

Duration: 8 months