Board Diversity and Operational Efficiency: A Public Utility Perspective
Abstract
Effective corporate governance is essential for
fostering sustainable, profitable, and socially responsible
enterprises. It promotes transparency, accountability, and
ethical leadership, enabling organizations to respond
effectively to evolving societal needs. Sound governance
also upholds democratic values, inclusive decision-making,
and legitimate stakeholder representation, while
safeguarding the interests of both shareholders and the
general public. This study examined the influence of board
diversity on the operational efficiency in public utilities,
aiming to bridge knowledge gaps and enrich the existing
literature on corporate governance. Specifically, it
explored how various board characteristics impact service
delivery outcomes. Adopting a case study approach and a
descriptive research design, the study employed a stratified
sampling technique. The target population comprised
management staff from a water and sewerage company in
Murang’a, Central Kenya. Findings revealed a statistically
significant and positive relationship between board
diversity and the operational efficiency. The study
concluded that board diversity is a key driver of effective
governance and enhanced organizational performance;
and recommended the enforcement of policies to
institutionalize board diversity across all public utility
enterprises.
