Policies and practices of gender-based equality and diversity in Australian project-based organizations

Abstract

The relationship between gender equality and diversity practices and their impact on gender diversity in project-based organizations has delivered mixed research results. Policies abound but the implementation of diversity practices has received limited research focus. The quality of the processes implementing equality and diversity practices is the focus of the present research report. The research systematically investigates how effective is the implementation of those practices using a multi-case research method across six project-based organizations in the Australian construction, property and engineering industry sectors, employing a frame designed by Guest and Bos-Nehles (2013). The findings reveal patchy and ineffective implementation of even well-considered and high-quality diversity policies. In terms of diversity practices, a focus on implementation in practice is equally important as a focus on policy design or selection.