Document Type

Journal Article

Department/Unit

Department of Management

Title

Age diversity and firm performance in an emerging economy: Implications for cross-cultural human resource management

Language

English

Abstract

This study tests the effect of age diversity on firm performance among international firms. Based on the resource-based view of the firm, it argues that age diversity among employees will influence firm performance. Moreover, it argues that two contextual variables-a firm's level of market diversification and its country of origin-influence the relationship between age diversity and firm performance. By testing relevant hypotheses in a major emerging economy, that is, the People's Republic of China, this study finds a significant and positive effect of age diversity and a significant interactive effect between age diversity and firm strategy on profitability. We also find a significant relationship between age diversity and firm profitability for firms from Western societies, but not for firms from East Asian societies. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of this study's findings. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords

Age diversity, China, Emerging economy, Firm performance, Human resource management

Publication Date

2011

Source Publication Title

Human Resource Management

Volume

50

Issue

2

Start Page

247

End Page

270

Publisher

Wiley

DOI

10.1002/hrm.20416

Link to Publisher's Edition

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hrm.20416

ISSN (print)

00904848

ISSN (electronic)

1099050X

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