THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER DIVERSITY ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC COMMERCIAL BANKS IN TANZANIA

Abstract

This study examined the influence of gender diversity on employee performance in public commercial banks in Tanzania, addressing the existing gap on how gender-balanced workplaces shape behavioural and performance outcomes. Although gender diversity is widely recognised as a strategic resource for organizational competitiveness, many public commercial banks still experience challenges in effectively integrating diverse gender perspectives into daily operations. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine how gender diversity affects employee performance and whether human resource policy moderate this relationship.

A descriptive research design was employed, and data were collected from 317 employees using a convenience sampling technique. The adequacy of the sample was confirmed through KMO tests ranging from 0.824 to 0.891. Data analysis involved SmartPLS, correlation, and regression analysis to examine direct and moderating effects.

The findings revealed that gender diversity has a significant and positive influence on employee performance in public commercial banks in Tanzania. The results further indicated that perceptions of gender diversity and its effects on performance vary across gender, age groups, and levels of work experience. The study concludes that promoting and managing gender diversity is essential for enhancing productivity, job satisfaction, and employee engagement.

It is recommended that public commercial banks strengthen policies and practices that support gender inclusiveness, minimize gender-related conflicts, promote person–job and person–organization fit, and utilize gender-diverse teams effectively. Enhancing gender diversity management will enable banks to maximize employee performance and remain competitive in the evolving financial sector.