Abstract
This study explores how human resource management (HRM) practices influence employee perceptions of gender diversity in Bangladesh’s rapidly expanding Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. As the industry grows, establishing an inclusive and gender-diverse workforce is increasingly seen as critical to sustainable development. This research specifically focuses on how HRM practices—such as recruitment and selection practices, professional development and career management, work environment and policy management, and Performance Management —shape employees' views on inclusivity and equitable opportunity. Using a structured survey conducted among employees in several BPO companies across Bangladesh, the study gathers quantitative insights into how these HRM practices affect perceptions of gender diversity within the workplace and uses Smart PLS 4 to analyse the data. The findings indicate which HR policies are most effective in promoting a respectful and inclusive culture, while also highlighting gaps that may hinder progress toward diversity goals. Additionally, the study examines how an organization’s commitment to diversity can enhance employee satisfaction, productivity, and a sense of belonging. This research enhances the understanding of HRM’s impact on gender diversity, offering practical recommendations for BPO firms in Bangladesh aiming to foster more equitable workplace environments. By aligning HR policies with diversity objectives, organizations can boost morale, reduce employee turnover, and cultivate a more balanced, forward-looking workforce suited to the demands of today’s business environment.
Introduction
Background of the Study
Human resource management (HRM) practices have been identified as crucial factors for addressing gender diversity. HRM practices, such as hiring and selection, training and career development, workplace and policy management, and performance management, can be used to build a work environment that supports diversity (Mahmud 2021). For example, companies with inclusive hiring practices and clear anti-discrimination policies tend to attract and retain diverse workforces (Chowdhury & Rahim, 2020). Moreover, the creation of an organizational culture that promotes diversity and inclusion has been found to have a positive impact on employee satisfaction, morale, and commitment (Akter, 2022). However, in the case of the Bangladeshi BPO industry, many companies still have difficulties practicing and maintaining such practices due to a shortage of resources, insufficient knowledge, or resistance to cultural change.
There is a notable global rise in interest in gender diversity in the workplace. It is increasingly recognized that diverse teams can offer opportunities for enhancing diversity in recruitment, career advancement, workplace inclusion, leadership commitment, anti-discrimination policies and organizational representation. The representation of multiple perspectives is particularly useful within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, which is characterized by its fast pace and competitiveness. Jehn, Northcraft and Neale, (1999) theorize that gender diversity is especially valuable because individuals with different points of view may contribute to more effective decision making and problem-solving within organizations. Industry, geography, and practice variation: while the ways in which gender diversity is addressed by policy are very variable, many organizations find it extremely difficult to implement the policy.
The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Bangladesh has become a significant contributor to the economy by offering employment to millions of workers, many of whom are women. However, disparities along gender lines persist, reflecting a pervasive and systemic bias in society. Though barriers to advancement remain extremely challenging for women in Bangladesh, particularly in male-dominated sectors such as business process outsourcing (BPO), according to research. This is even though the number of women in the workplace has grown steadily. These are challenges that are related to maintaining a work-life balance, gender-based discrimination, and no policies that accommodate or cater to the more specific needs of women staff. As a result, many organizations in Bangladesh that work in the business process outsourcing (BPO) field do not consider gender diversity to be a strategic goal. While it is well-established in the literature that gender diversity plays an important role in enhancing the effectiveness of organizations, more in-depth research is therefore required on how these practices are being adopted and their impact on the business process outsourcing industry of Bangladesh. This study aims to examine how HRM practices including recruitment and selection, professional development, work environment, and performance management shape employee perceptions of gender diversity in Bangladesh’s BPO sector.
Problem Statement
While substantial research has explored the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on organizational performance and employee engagement, few studies have specifically examined how these practices influence gender diversity in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, especially in developing countries such as Bangladesh (Akter & Hasan, 2023). Existing literature on gender diversity often centers on traditional sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and finance, with relatively little attention paid to the BPO industry, which operates under unique cultural and organizational dynamics (Oualidet al.,2017). This gap is notable, as the BPO industry, being one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in Bangladesh, has distinctive workforce characteristics and operational challenges that influence the implementation of HRM practices aimed at promoting gender diversity (Unity Connect, 2022). Furthermore, although prior studies have examined HRM practices, such as recruitment, professional development, and anti-discrimination policies, there is limited empirical evidence on how these practices affect employee perceptions of gender inclusivity, specifically in the BPO context. Many of the available studies focus broadly on HRM’s impact on diversity or organizational culture without delving into how gender diversity initiatives are perceived by employees, particularly in a BPO setting where client demands and operational pressures are high (Rahman & Hasan, 2022).
Objectives
To assess the impact of recruitment and selection procedures on the perceived gender diversity in the BPO industry.
- To assess the impact of professional development and career management on the perceived gender diversity in the BPO industry.
- To assess the impact of work environment and policy management on the perceived gender diversity in the BPO industry.
- To assess the impact of performance management on the perceived gender diversity in the BPO industry.
Literature Review
The BPO Industry and Gender Dynamics in Bangladesh .
Business process outsourcing (BPO) has grown substantially in Bangladesh and has become an integral part of the economy, with a 24/7 working model and a burgeoning young workforce (Akteret.al.,2019). This expansion has led to new employment opportunities, as Bangladesh is increasingly being considered a focal player in the global outsourcing industry (Monteiro & Joseph, 2022). However, gender relations are still a matter of concern, as women’s participation in the formal labor market is shaped based on sociocultural norms, though a number of governmental efforts, such as the National Women Development Policy, try to stand them up (Ali & Akter, 2021). Even though women’s participation in the labor force is increasing, they are still encumbered by many hurdles (Senanet al.,2022), which in turn complicates the implementation of gender diversity initiatives in the BPO industry (Dey & Basak, 2017). At the global level, the BPO industry is perceived to be women-friendly, and hence, at the entry-level, the "glass ceilings" can have an impact on the career progress of women employees (Akhteret.al.,1970). The idea of “Perceived Gender Diversity” represents the perception of employees toward gender equality and equal opportunity for everyone in their organizations (Haqueet al.,2020). There is little research on gender diversity in BPOs situated in Bangladesh, and there is limited information on how global trends manifest locally and the extent to which existing practices play a meaningful role in promoting gender equality.
Sex diversity is of strategic significance to BPOs in the recruitment of talent, their perceived ability to innovate, client satisfaction, and CSR compliance (2023). A diverse workforce adds new approaches to problem-solving and decision-making, which are key to a competitive global economy. Recruitment and selection, professional development, work environment and performance management are HRM practices that have a significant impact on enhancing gender diversity. The objective of the current research is to investigate how these HRM practices affect perceived gender diversity in Bangladesh’s BPO industry in the absence of stringent laws against workplace gender discrimination (Chakraborty & Chatterjee, 2020). Strategic HRM practices at the level of gender diversity are prerequisites for productive organizational success” (Monteiro & Joseph, 2022). Biases need to be avoided in recruitment, and professional development programmes should be geared towards the promotion of women. Workplaces that are inclusive and have a fair performance management system in place are needed to retain diverse talents (Rajashekar & Jain, 2023). By exploring how the perceptions of GD affected organizational outcomes through HRM practices in the context of the BPO sector in Bangladesh, through the current study we wish to investigate the potential GDOM among the critical BPO sector operating in the context of Bangladesh, hoping to inspire future researchers (Mahmood & Absar, 2015).
Recruitment and Selection Practices
Recruitment and selection practices are essential for shaping an organization's workforce, significantly affecting talent composition and diversity (Daintyet al.,2004). This series of practices includes all activities, from finding prospects to assessing and selecting individuals who fit into specific roles (Chungyalpa, 2016 and Opadaet al.,2024). One of the more critical issues in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry is recruitment and selection, where workforce diversity is rapidly becoming a strategic priority (Azmy, 2018). The success of these practices depends on whether they match organizational goals, are fair and inclusive, and use proper tools to attract a diverse pool of candidates (Ryan & Tippins, 2004). Furthermore, these practices help shape employee perceptions of organizational culture and strengthen their commitment to diversity. The BPO industry in Bangladesh is enlarged, and more women join; therefore, whether recruitment and selection practices can bring about gender diversity has become a crucial question (Kanagavalliet al.,2019). Even with all these advancements, obstacles exist, such as the "glass ceiling" and social norms that keep women from advancing their careers (Ali & Akter, 2021). It is important to understand recruitment and selection practices that can have a positive impact on gender diversity if one wants to create a fair work environment.
To achieve this, it is important for an organization to choose its personnel according to both objective and subjective criteria to ensure a high proportion of diversity in the members of its workforce (Saadet al.,2014). The present study posits that gender-inclusive recruitment and selection practices correlate positively with perceived gender diversity in Bangladeshi BPOs. Practices that increase an organization's likelihood of hiring qualified female candidates include using gender-neutral job descriptions, diverse hiring panels, structured interviews, targeted outreach, and unbiased screening processes. When hiring women or other underprivileged groups, using fair hiring practices affects not only a level field in the process but also assists with the communication of an organization's commitment to diversity (Chakraborty & Chatterjee, 2020). On the other hand, according to social identity theory, people are attracted to institutions that mirror their social identity, including gender. Gender-neutral job descriptions, together with broad-based hiring panels, can erase bias and foster justice (Woodhams & Lupton, 2009). Finally, targeted outreach combined with unbiased screening processes can help attract different things to the acceptance system, such as potential employees of other nationalities or people just starting out in their careers. Characterizing the last two job steps as ideal further ensures that people are evaluated based on professional experience rather than demographic factors.
H1: Recruitment and selection practices are positively associated with the perceived gender diversity in the BPO industry.
Professional development and career management practice
Professional development and career management practices play an essential role in forming perceptions of gender diversity in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry (Bulaet al.,2023). If women are to move into the boardroom, they need to develop clear career paths through training and mentoring (Adhikary, 2016). By seeing women in different positions, it is believed that opportunities for women exist. Leading diverse roles creates a feeling of diversity beyond rudimentary (Barkhuizenet al., 2022). Companies that incorporate life into these practices show that they are inclusive in spirit. They become environments in which people are validated and encouraged (Yousuf, 2014). This is important not only for the development of a diverse workforce but also for those doing strategic planning within BPO organizations (Ramliet al.,2024). Such initiatives attract, retain, and develop talented women while driving creativity and improving organizational performance. Without institutionalizing diversity at every tier from top to bottom, companies cannot unleash their full potential (Mavriplis & Croft, 2013). The resource-based view theory suggests that a diverse workforce, especially one with female leaders, can deliver a competitive edge. This may be due to the promotion of innovation or even increased flexibility (Guhaet. al.,2025).
This belief represents the Social Identity Theory explain when employees feel that their company values diversity, they feel a part of it and become more involved (Woodhams & Lupton, 2009). Integration is an essential condition for maintaining the welfare of diversity in employment (Provost 2024). Labor policies conducive to equal opportunities are taken up on a sustained basis by organizations if the latter would like to see their performance improvement (Mehariet al.,2024). Poorly managed diversity may result in higher turnover rates and decreased performance (Kumar 2012). Diversity management aims to cultivate an environment that appreciates individual differences, thus enabling all members of the organization to contribute their best efforts towards common goals (Patrick & Kumar, 2012). Companies face the challenge of leveraging cultural diversity while avoiding friction caused by these differences (Kreitz, 2008). However, how can organizations deal with differences to educate retention and productivity (Elaminet al., 2024)? Diversity is multifaceted, encompassing aspects such as race, sex, and thinking styles. (Patrick & Kumar, 2012) Organizations should recruit and support a diverse workforce to reflect consumer diversity, but few have achieved genuine multiculturalism (Rabby and Rahman, 2023 and Croitoruet al.,2022). Two other major sources of prejudice are high mobility and lack of feedback for performance (Konrad, 2006).
H2: Professional development and career management practices are positively associated with the perceived gender diversity in the BPO industry.
Work Environment and Policy Management
Organizational policies and workplace management play a vital role in influencing the perception of gender diversity, especially in Bangladesh’s BPO sector (Kaushiket al.,2014). Flexibility when women return to work, which is necessary because of the shift work in BPO firms, and strong policies that are well-enforced could be a means to make women comfortable and welcome in call-center setups (Krekelet al.,2019). Measures such as parental leave, equal pay audits, and safe late-shift transportation create a culture of inclusivity that will improve retention rates and perceptions of diversity (Monteiro & Joseph, 2022). Personalized health and wellness interventions, such as flexible schedules and improved leave policies, also support employee well-being and work–life balance, which is particularly important for women who are jugglers of family care (Feeney & Stritch, 2017 and Rajashekar & Jain, 2023). However, the absence of inclusive HR practices to manage recruitment bias, performance appraisals, promotions, and equal employment opportunities can impede the career development of women and lead to a glass ceiling effect (Ali & Akter, 2021). The safety of women working at night shifts policy enforcement Microaggression These challenges are specific to India and work; inclusivity cannot be standalone; there has to be a gender-specific approach required (Islam, 2018). A growing number of IT organizations are realizing the significance of employee well-being management and investing in employee well-being initiatives (Ajayiet.al.,2024 and Monteiro & Joseph, 2022).
Gender diversity and perceptions of work environment policies in BPOs: A major research gap exists with regard to the impact of work environment policies on perceived gender diversity in Bangladeshi BPOs. Attractive compensation benefits are reasons for employee satisfaction but may not be sufficient to deal with gender diversity in a sensitive way (Chaudhary & Singh, 2021). Institutions will have a responsibility to “walk the talk” by developing a caring climate wherein supportive work-life balance policies are motivated to be used to address the range of needs held by employees. A supportive work environment represents an inclusive work environment, with the result that the diversity of employees is more visible, and an equitable working environment is developed (Haqueet al.,2020; Wanget al.,2025). Implementing diversity and inclusion policies is a way to keep pace with societal precepts and convey commitment to fairness and inclusion, thereby attracting diverse sets of employees (Chaudhary & Singh, 2021).
H3: The work environment and policy management are positively associated with perceived gender diversity in the BPO industry.
Performance Management Practices
PM is important for how perceptions of GD within organizations are shaped, as it may moderate gender bias in employee evaluations (Haqueet al.,2020). Studies have shown that the application of objective, non-prejudiced performance criteria and transparent appraisal processes can help reduce gender bias in PA (Ali & Akter, 2021). In addition, the introduction of diversity goals in manager performance metrics provides a mechanism for holding individuals accountable and supporting the quality of the evaluation environment (Castilla, 2008). They show how a performance management system reflects a commitment to fairness and addresses diversity and inclusivity, which in turn makes employees feel included – a key antecedent of psychological empowerment (Castilla, 2008 and Maas & Torres-González, 2011). However, it is difficult to use these principles in countries such as Bangladesh, where subjective judgements appear to be affected by cultural biases and where managers are not adequately trained about how to provide an unbiased rating (Neeley & Dhanaraj, 2005). This underscores the need for research into the association between the fairness of PM systems and employee perceptions of gender diversity, especially in the context of the Bangladeshi Desh BPO industry, which grapples with gendered expectations about task and performance reviews (Sankar, 2019).
Reward-based PKI performance management systems with quantifiable KPIs are essential for constructive feedback (Makasa & Hapompwe, 2024). Further, the mission is translated into prioritized objectives associated with employees’ roles in terms of critical success factors (Hristovet al.,2022 and Sapraet al.,2023). An effective performance management system is one that objectively measures and improves performance (Rabbyet. al.,2025 and Purandare, 2022). Performance-based bonuses and incentives encourage employees to recognize their performance (Sapraet al.,2023). In the BPO industry in Bangladesh, subjective judgement, which can be influenced by personal biases and cultural norms, may cause distortion and subjectivity in the review process, negatively affecting employee morale and perceptions of gender diversity. Thus, a new conjecture is formulated: HH1: Performance management is positively correlated with perceived gender diversity in the BPO sector. Well-reasoned evaluations will decrease perceived gender interestedness by elimination as a reward mechanism, potentially creating an environment in which all genders feel valued (Sapraet al.,2023). This is consistent with social identity theory, which underscores the need to belong and feel valued as a result of being part of a social group, and Signaling Theory, which suggests that fair practices signal an organization’s commitment to diversity (Castilla, 2015).
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework of this study suggests that four fundamental aspects of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices namely Recruitment and Selection Practices, Professional Development and Career Management, Work Environment and Policy Management, and Performance Management act as the main independent variables. These are hypothesized to significantly impact the dependent variable, Perceived Gender Diversity, within the specific setting of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in Bangladesh. The framework indicates that the effective, fair, and inclusive application of these HRM practices influences how employees perceive the existence, acceptance, and importance of gender diversity in their organizations.
Figure 1. Conceptual Framework
Independent Variables:
Recruitment and Selection Practices (Independent Variable): Recruitment practices that emphasize inclusivity and unbiased hiring are foundational for promoting diversity in organizations. By employing structured interviews, equitable job postings, and proactive diversity recruitment, companies can better attract and retain diverse talent (Avery & McKay, 2006). Inclusive recruitment practices are particularly effective in industries where representation gaps are prevalent, such as BPOs (Kundu & Mor, 2017).
Professional Development and Career Management (Independent Variable): Professional development opportunities, such as mentorship and equitable promotion pathways, are critical to gender inclusivity. When organizations provide equal access to skill-building and career advancement, employees feel valued and supported in their growth, promoting an inclusive culture (Raginset al.,1998; Singh & Vinnicombe, 2019).
Work Environment and Policy Management (Independent Variable): The creation of an inclusive work environment depends on policies that support flexible working arrangements, anti-discrimination measures, and a supportive culture. Studies emphasize that a supportive policy environment significantly improves perceptions of diversity and inclusion (Kosseket al.,2011; Clark, 2018). Organizations with clear, supportive policies experience higher employee satisfaction and retention, especially in high-stress sectors like BPO (Bianchi & Milkie, 2020).
Performance Management (Independent Variable): Proper performance in diversity is essential for fostering an inclusive workplace culture. When performance management is concerned about the diversity goals, employee perceptions of gender equity improve, promoting a culture of inclusion (Pekuriet al.,2011). In the BPO industry, performance management is particularly impactful, as it sets the tone for inclusivity across the organization (Evans & DiMarco, 2019).
Dependent Variables:
Perceived gender equality: This variable measures employees’ perception of how equitably people of different genders are treated and represented within the organization (Shoreet al.,2018).
Methodology
Research Design
This study used a quantitative research methodology to investigate the impact of HRM practices on perceived gender diversity practices within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector in Bangladesh. The justification for using a quantitative approach is based on the requirement to gather objective, numerical data that can be statistically analyzed to detect patterns and correlations among variables (Creswell, 2014). Utilizing a standardized survey, this quantitative technique facilitates the evaluation of employees' impressions of HRM practices that impact gender diversity, thus permitting a methodical study of the collected data.
Sample and Population
This study focuses on 2788 employees from ten Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) businesses in Bangladesh. A stratified random sample method is used to guarantee a comprehensive representation of all genders, job positions, and hierarchical levels within organizations. This approach facilitates the inclusion of a wide variety of viewpoints and reduces the influence of selection bias (Fowler, 2013). The calculated sample size of 338 was based on Cochran’s formula for a population of 2,788 employees, ensuring a 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error. In total, 405 valid responses were obtained from the distributed questionnaires, exceeding the minimum required sample size. This response rate (approximately 14.5% of the 2,788 employees contacted) provides sufficient statistical power for the analysis and ensures adequate representation across genders, job positions, and hierarchical levels within the sampled BPO organizations.
Research Instrument
The most important instrument for collecting data is a structured questionnaire that was developed to obtain the opinions of workers regarding the HRM practices implemented within their respective organizations that impact gender diversity. On a scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree", the questionnaire contains statements that are expressed using a Likert scale. Respondents were asked to rate the degree to which they agreed with their assertions. The survey instrument was a self-administered questionnaire comprising 15 questions. While three of these questions are demographic, the questionnaire is composed of two main components: Human Resource Management (HRM) practices with nine questions and Perceived Gender Diversity (PGD) with three questions.
Data Collection Procedure
Information was gathered by means of an online survey sent via email to the HR of the 10 BPO companies after communicating with them about the purpose of the survey. The decision was made to use the online format because of its ease of use and effectiveness in reaching participants in a variety of areas inside Bangladesh. To encourage participants to provide honest and accurate feedback, they were given the assurance that their replies would be kept confidential and anonymous. The initial phase of the data-gathering procedure consisted of contacting the human resource departments of 16 different BPOs, both verbally and via email, to seek a list of email addresses for their employees. A brief explanation of the goal of the study, the processes for distributing the questionnaire, and the procedures for collecting data through email from their employees are all included in the letter requesting the information. With the purpose of gathering information, the researcher contacted 16 different BPO institutions, and ten of those institutions consented to participate. To this end, the researcher gathered 2788 email addresses belonging to employees from ten different BPO institutions. The link to the questionnaire, as well as information regarding the objectives and methodology of the research project, was included in an email sent to each of the 2788 personal email accounts.
Data Analysis
SmartPLS 4 was used to analyze the data with a consistent PLS (PLSc) algorithm to improve the accuracy of the parameter estimates (Calantone., 2014 and Dijkstra & Henseler, 2015). The analysis was performed according to the recommended two-step PLS-SEM method (Hairet al.,2022). First, the measurement model is tested. Reliability analysis included Cronbach’s alpha (α), Composite Reliability (rho_c), and Dijkstra-Henseler’s indicator rho_A (ρ_A), with a threshold of 0.70 as sufficient (Hairet al.,1994; Hairet al.,2022). Convergent validity was met on the basis of Average Variance Extracted (AVE), with values > 0.50 (Fornell & Larcker, 1981), and indicator reliability, where the outer loadings were > 0.7 (Hairet al.,2022). Items with loadings of 0 indicated that the models were predictively relevant (Geisser 1974; Stone 1974). Effect sizes (f²) were used to determine the practical significance of exogenous constructs on endogenous constructs, with 0.02, 0.15, and 0.35 representing small, medium, and loading effects, respectively (Cohen, 1988). Model fit was evaluated based on the Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) of 0.85 (Bentler & Bonett, 1980) and the exact fit tests (d_ULS, d_G) relative to the bootstrap quantiles (Dijkstra & Henseler, 2015). Control variables were considered covariates in the model when they influenced the endogenous constructs.
Ethical Consideration
This study has received ethical approval from the participants who have been given informed consent forms which details the study’s aim, purpose and procedures which also give them the right to withdraw whenever they want to without any consequences. To maintain confidentiality and anonymity, no personally identifiable information was collected, and responses were stored securely. The participants were assured that their answers would only be used for research purposes and reported in aggregate form.
Results
Demographic Profile
The demographic profile (Table 1) of the sample population in Bangladesh’s BPO sector provides valuable insight. The majority of respondents were in the age bracket of 26–35 years (58.87%, n = 156), showing that the workforce is mostly early-to mid-career-orientated, which, for the majority of the world’s service sector. Gender: Representation is highly disproportionate with males (62.96%, n = 255) to females (37.04%, n=150), which reflects structural inequities reflected in liberal professions in the South Asian BPO industry as well, where women struggle due to sociocultural barriers in corporate culture (Ng & Mitter, 2010). Such bias may affect the interpretation of gender diversity, as male-dominated samples tend to underreport the discrimination faced by women. Of note, ten companies are represented; SkyTech (16.60%, n = 44) and Avian (14.72%, n = 39) are the largest, and Digicon (0.75%, n = 2) and SEBPO (2.26%, n = 6) are the least represented.
| Basis of the demographic data | Characteristics | Frequency | Percentage (%) |
| Age | 18-25 | 42 | 15.85% |
| 26-35 | 156 | 58.87% | |
| 36-45 | 43 | 16.23% | |
| 46+ | 24 | 9.06% | |
| Gender | Female | 150 | 37.04% |
| Male | 255 | 62.96% | |
| Company Name | Aamra | 27 | 10.19% |
| Avian | 39 | 14.72% | |
| Digicon | 2 | 0.75% | |
| Enroute | 32 | 12.08% | |
| FifoTech | 29 | 10.94% | |
| Intellie | 20 | 7.55% | |
| Magnito | 30 | 11.32% | |
| Quantigo | 36 | 13.58% | |
| SEBPO | 6 | 2.26% | |
| SkyTech | 44 | 16.60% |
Measurement Model Assessment
As part of the measurement model evaluation, one estimates convergent validity (in terms of reliability and movement in average loadings). The model is particularly good for Table 2 and Fig. 2, and with the exception of low values, the impact of the loading on the recommendation worth is augmented by 0.60. Some factors were excluded from the scale because of their relatively low factor loadings.
Figure 2. Measurement Model
In addition, the discrimination of the variables was examined using the Farnell-Lacker and HTMT approaches. After removing a couple of items (from the model), all principles satisfied this criterion and were therefore considered to have discriminant validity. Conclusions There was no discriminant validity problem based on the distribution, percentage, and cumulative percentage results of the studies.
Discussion
While discussing about Table 1 In a study it has been recognized as increasing ecological validity through the inclusion of a range of HRM practices throughout its industry (Cookeet al.,2020), although results will be less relevant to firms with minimal participation. This age profile indicates that respondents have sufficient organizational tenure to provide a credible evaluation of HRM practices, although it may also represent generational bias with respect to workplace diversity policies, depends on younger talent because of the need for operational agility and adaptability (Battet al.,2002).
As per Table 2, an acceptable value of the composite average variance extracted was received over the learner theory and meta-study recommendation of 0.50 (Sarstedt et al.,2014). The process of Evalution made in Table 2 is better than Cronbach’s alpha commonly used in PLS-SEM to estimate reliability (Hairet al.,2019). Although Cronbach's alpha for EPM (0.693), PCM (0.620), and PM (0.651) is slightly below 0.70, it is acceptable for exploratory research if accompanied by good rho_c coefficients (>=0.70 all) (Nunnally & Bernstein, 1994). Convergent validity is fulfilled as AVE scores are higher than 0.50 for all constructs (EPM=0.617, PCM=0.573, PGD=0.665, PM=0.591, RS=0.701), proving that each latent variable explains more than 3⁄4 50% of the variance of its indicator cross on average (Fornell & Larcker, 1981).Most indicator loadings are >0.70, except for PCM_1 = 0.580 and PGD_5 = 0.671, which remain in the final model because of their theoretical importance and fairly acceptable values >0.50 when AVE and composite reliability values are satisfied (Hairet al.,2022). This result is supported by all VIF values <3, which also indicates no multicollinearity issues. (maximum=2.985), which is substantially less than the conservative cutoff value of 5.0 (Kock & Lynn, 2012).
As per Table 3, The discriminant validity of the study constructs was examined using the Fornell-Larcker criterion to verify that each construct differs from the others by comparing the square root of the AVE with the constructs’ correlation coefficient (Fornell & Larcker, 1981). The square roots of AVE (diagonal elements) were all higher than the off-diagonal correlations of the constructs, supporting sufficient discriminant validity (Hairet al.,2017). This finding is consistent with the demand for constructs to demonstrate more shared variance with their own indicators than with variable items that represent other constructs in the model (Henseleret al.,2015). Hence, the results support the measurement model’s robustness to the extent that all latent constructs are theoretically and empirically distinct and can be subjected to analysis in a structural model (Sarstedtet al.,2022).
In Table 4, The Observations made is consistent with the literature, according to which organised performance management and fair reward systems help to make the workplace more inclusive (Ali et al.,2021). The high intercorrelations between HRM practices also underscore the synergistic contribution of practices to gender diversity, which is an outcome consistent with SET. According to SET, when HRM practices are delivered equitably, employees develop perceptions that the organization will provide support for them (Cropanzano & Mitchell, 2005).
In Table 5 & 6, The R² value of 0.754 (adjusted R² = 0.751) suggests that about 75.4% of the variance of perceived gender equality can be explained by the HRM practices included in the model, providing evidence of strong explanatory power (Hairet al.,2022). Definition: 'cosa', our high R² 579 cards played here, is our R² level, which is in line with previous research suggesting that there is a significant impact on gender diversity (Cooke & Saini, 2015). The added value of the model, indicated by the Q² predictive relevance value of 0.740 (Stone–Geisser criterion), also supports the model’s high level of predictive accuracy. (Scores higher than zero indicate that the models have strong out-of-sample predictive power) (Hairet al.,2022). The root mean square error (RMSE) was 0.514, and the mean absolute error (MAE) was 0.384, which shows that the model is quite accurate because the lower the values of these error metrics, the better the fit (Shmueliet al.,2019).
In Table 7, Taken together, our findings are consistent with resource-based view theory, which suggests that strategic HRM bundles, such as the bundle of performance-compensation integration, can generalize and act as valuable organizational resources that boost
Conclusion
This study examines the impact of HRM practices on perceived gender diversity in Bangladesh's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. Key HRM dimensions—recruitment and selection, professional development and career management, work environment and policy management, and Performance Management—were found to positively influence employees’ perceptions of gender diversity. By focusing on these areas, BPO companies can foster a more inclusive culture where gender diversity is actively supported, thus benefiting employee satisfaction, morale, and overall organizational productivity. These findings underscore that HRM practices aligned with diversity goals lead to enhanced perceptions of fairness, belonging, and inclusivity within the workplace, all of which are essential for sustaining gender-diverse teams. The results of this study suggest that targeted improvements in HR policies especially those aimed at reducing hiring biases, providing equal career advancement opportunities, and cultivating a supportive work environment can help BPO firms in Bangladesh bridge existing gender gaps and create a culture that values all employees' contributions. By prioritizing gender diversity through supportive management and fair practices, BPO companies can improve their adaptability and innovation, thereby strengthening their competitive position.
Future Scope
Future research should build upon these findings by employing a longitudinal design to address the limitations of the current cross-sectional study and to establish causal relationships between HRM practices and gender diversity outcomes over time. Researchers could also expand the scope by incorporating objective, quantifiable metrics of diversity, such as promotion rates and pay equity, to complement the current focus on "perceived" diversity and measure "actual" diversity levels. A comparative analysis across different industrial sectors would enhance the generalizability of the results beyond the BPO industry. Furthermore, future studies would benefit from a more gender-balanced sample to correct for the potential under-representation of the female point of view, given the male-dominated sample in this study. Finally, exploring the moderating role of organizational culture could provide a more nuanced understanding of how HRM effectiveness is influenced within different company environments. Investigating these areas will provide a more comprehensive and actionable framework for fostering genuine workplace inclusivity in Bangladesh. This study examines the impact of HRM practices on perceived gender diversity in Bangladesh's Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. Key HRM dimensions recruitment and selection, professional development and career management, work environment and policy management, and Performance Management were found to positively influence employees’ perceptions of gender diversity.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper. All research activities and findings have been conducted and presented with full objectivity and academic integrity.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the authors who contributed to this article.
References
- Adams, J. S. (1965). Inequity in social exchange. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, (2), 267–299.
- Adhikary, J. R. (2016). Barriers to Career Progression: A Study of the Perceptions of Nepali Women Employees. Journal of Business and Management Research, 1(2), 17. Https://doi.org/10.3126/jbmr.v1i2.15657
- Ajayi, F. A., & Udeh, C. A. (2024). Combating burnout in the it industry: a review of employee well-being initiatives. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(4), 567. Fair East Publishers.
- Https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v6i4.1010
- Akhter, S., Salahuddin, A. F. M., Iqbal, M., Malek, A., & Jahan, n. (1970). Health and occupational safety for female workforce of garment industries in Bangladesh. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 41(1), 65. Https://doi.org/10.3329/jme.v41i1.5364
- Akter, S., Michael, K., Uddin, M. R., McCarthy, G., & Rahman, M. (2022). Transforming business using digital innovations: the application of AI, blockchain, cloud and data analytics. Annals of Operations Research, 308(1), 7-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-020-03620-w
- Akter, M. (2022) Digitalization in the Land Service Delivery: Comparison between Bangladesh and Indonesia. Southeast Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 22, 79-91.
- https://fass.ubd.edu.bn/SEA/vol22-1/ma-dig-land-service.pdf
- https://doi.org/10.1108/seamj-01-2022-b1006
- Akter, N., & Hasan, M. N. (2023). Factors Affecting Employee Engagement: A Study on Private Organizations in Bangladesh. European Journal of Business and Management, 15(16), 2023. IISTE+1arxiv+1
- Al Mahmud. (2021). Advancing Gender Diversity and Inclusion: A Comparative Study of Workplace Initiatives in India and Bangladesh. South South Research Initiative. South-South Research Initiative
- Ali, M., Lei, S., & Wei, X. Y. (2021). The mediating effect of the organizational commitment on HRM practices and firm performance of the pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh. Heliyon, 7(1), e05834. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05834
- Ali, T., & Akter, N. (2021). The Effect of Glass Ceiling on Women Advancement: A Case Study of Financial Institutions in Bangladesh. Https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/agjre
- Appelbaum, E., Bailey, T., Berg, P., & Kalleberg, A. L. (2000). Manufacturing advantage: Why high-performance work systems pay off. Cornell University Press.
- Asadullah, M. N. (2022). Gender equality in Bangladesh: Progress and challenges. Journal of South Asian Development, 17(1), 7–32.
- Avery, D. R., & mckay, P. F. (2006). Target practice: An organizational impression management approach to attracting minority and female job applicants. Personnel Psychology, 59(1), 157–187. Https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2006.00807.x
- Azmy, A. (2018). Recruitment strategy to hire the best people for organization. Journal of Management and Leadership, 1(2). Http://jurnal.tau.ac.id/index.php/jml/article/view/40
- Barkhuizen, N., Masakane, G., & Sluis, L. E. C. Van der. (2022). In search of factors that hinder the career advancement of women to senior leadership positions. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 48. Https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v48i0.1986
- Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. Https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
- Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88(3), 588–606. Https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.88.3.588
- Bianchi, S. M., & Milkie, M. A. (2020). Work and family research in the first decade of the 21st century. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 300–325. Https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12636
- Batt, R. (2002). Managing customer services: Human resource practices, quit rates, and sales growth. Academy of management Journal, 45(3), 587-597.
- Bula, R. R. H., Catahan, M. G., & Enorasa, S. D. (2023). The Transformation in Philippine BPO Companies: The Impact of Digital Workplace Transformation to the Front Office CSR in terms of their Work Culture. International Journal of Engineering Business and Management, 7(4), 40. Https://doi.org/10.22161/ijebm.7.4.6
- Castilla, E. J. (2008). Gender, race, and meritocracy in organizational careers. American Journal of Sociology, 113(6), 1479–1526.
- Castilla, E. J. (2015). Accounting for the gap: A firm study manipulating organizational accountability and transparency in pay decisions. Organization Science, 26(2), 311–333. Https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2014.0940
- Chakraborty, S., & Chatterjee, L. (2020). Rationales of gender diversity management policies and practices in India: an exploratory empirical study in the Indian IT/ites industry. Equality Diversity and Inclusion an International Journal, 39(6), 667. Https://doi.org/10.1108/edi-04-2019-0124
- Chaudhary, N., & Singh, S. (2021). Examining the impact of employee wellbeing on employee engagement and work-life balance: evidence from north Indian textile sector.
- Chowdhury, X., & Rahim, Y. (2020). Inclusive hiring and non discrimination policies in Bangladesh’s corporate sector. (Supporting evidence: Coats, BRAC, Banglalink inclusive hiring examples) FICCI Bangladesh
- Chungyalpa, W. (2016). Best Practices and Emerging Trends in Recruitment and Selection. Journal of Entrepreneurship & Organization Management, 5(2). Https://doi.org/10.4172/2169-026x.1000173
- Clark, S. C. (2018). Work cultures and work/family balance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 58(3), 348–365. Https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-8791(01)00052-1
- Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Cooke, F. L., & Saini, D. S. (2015). Diversity management in India: A study of organizations in different ownership forms and industrial sectors. Human Resource Management, 54(3), 477–500. Https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2013.0120
- Cooke, F. L., Schuler, R., & Varma, A. (2020). Human resource management research and practice in Asia: Past, present and future. Human Resource Management Review, 30(4), 100778. 10.1016/j.hrmr.2020.100778
- Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
- Croitoru, G., Florea, N. V., Ionescu, C. A., Robescu, V. O., Paschia, L., Uzlău, M. C., & Manea, M. D. (2022). Diversity in the Workplace for Sustainable Company Development. Sustainability, 14(11), 6728. Https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116728
- Cropanzano, R., & Mitchell, M. S. (2005). Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of Management, 31(6), 874–900. Https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-5978(05)80009-5
- Dainty, A., Bagilhole, B., Ansari, K., & Jackson, J. L. (2004). Creating equality in the construction industry: an agenda for change for women and ethnic minorities. Journal of Restructuring Finance, 5(1), 75. Https://doi.org/10.1142/s1609945104000061
- Dey, S., & Basak, P. (2017). Out of the shadows: Women and wage struggle in the RMG industry of Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Women s Studies, 23(2), 163. Https://doi.org/10.1080/12259276.2017.1317702
- Dijkstra, T. K., & Henseler, J. (2015). Consistent partial least squares path modeling. MIS Quarterly, 39(2), 297–316. Https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2015/39.2.02
- Elamın, A. M., Aldabbas, H., & Ahmed, A. Z. E. (2024). The impact of diversity management on innovative work behavior: the mediating role of employee engagement in an emerging economy. Frontiers in Sociology, 9. Https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1441109
- Evans, W. R., & dimarco, J. (2019). Inclusive performance management: Applying equity and fairness in BPO appraisal systems. Journal of Business and Psychology, 34(4), 623–635.
- Feeney, M., & Stritch, J. M. (2017). Family-Friendly Policies, Gender, and Work–Life Balance in the Public Sector. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 39(3), 422. Https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371x17733789
- Ferdous, J. (2022). Strategic human resource management and organizational performance in the BPO sector of Bangladesh: Mediating role of gender diversity. Emerging Markets Journal, 12(1), 45–62. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2022.07.006
- Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. Https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104
- Fowler, F. J. (2013). Survey research methods (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
- Geisser, S. (1974). A predictive approach to the random effect model. Biometrika, 61(1), 101–107.
- Guha, S., Rabby, S. M. A. H., Chowdhury, S. R., & Julee, S. A. (2025). Enhancing employee innovation capabilities through high-involvement HRM: mediating role of knowledge sharing and transformational leadership. Future Business Journal, 11(1), 59.
- Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1994). Multivariate data analysis (4th ed.). Prentice-Hall.
- Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage. Https://doi.org/10.3926/oss.37
- Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (3rd ed.). Sage. Https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-021-00811-0
- Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. Https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
- Haque, M. F., Sarker, A. R., Rahman, M. S., & Rakibuddin. (2020). Discrimination of women in RMG sector in Bangladesh. Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 3(1), 112–118. Https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.03.01.152
- Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the academy of marketing science, 43(1), 115-135.
- Henseler, J. (2017). ADANCO 2.0. Composite Modeling, 1–188.
- Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115–135. Https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
- Hristov, I., Camilli, R., & Chirico, A. (2022). The role of key performance indicators as a performance management tool in implementing corporate strategies: A critical review of the literature. Financial Reporting, 1, 117–153.
- Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. Https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118
- Imtiaz, Q., Anwer, S., Chowdhury, S. R., Ireen, M., Parvin, M. A. U., Al-Jubori, I. A. M., ... & Rabby, A. H. (2024). Challenges And Solutions For Ethical Ai Implementation In Hrm. Library Progress International, 44(3), 12490-504.
- Islam, M. S. (2018). Perilous Wages: Predicaments of Female Labour Migration from Bangladesh to the Middle East. Issues in Social Science, 6(1), 61. Https://doi.org/10.5296/iss.v6i1.14933
- Jehn, K. A., Northcraft, G. B., & Neale, M. A. (1999). Why differences make a difference: A field study of diversity, conflict and performance in workgroups. Administrative Science Quarterly.
- Jiang, K., Lepak, D. P., Hu, J., & Baer, J. C. (2012). How does human resource management influence organizational outcomes? A meta-analytic investigation of mediating mechanisms. Academy of Management Journal, 55(6), 1264–1294. Https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.0088
- Kanagavalli, G., Seethalakshmi, R., & T., Dr. S. (2019). A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION process. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 7(2), 1. Https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2019.721
- Kaushik, N., Sharma, A., & Kaushik, V. K. (2014). Equality in the workplace: a study of gender issues in Indian organisations. Journal of Management Development, 33(2), 90. Https://doi.org/10.1108/jmd-11-2013-0140
- Kock, N., & Lynn, G. (2012). Lateral collinearity and misleading results in variance-based SEM: An illustration and recommendations. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 13(7), 546–580. Https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00302
- Konrad, A. M. (2006). Leveraging Workplace Diversity in Organizations. Organization Management Journal, 3(3), 164. Https://doi.org/10.1057/omj.2006.18
- Kossek, E. E., Baltes, B. B., & Matthews, R. A. (2011). How work–family research can finally have an impact in organizations. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 4(3), 352–369. Https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9434.2011.01353.x
- Kreitz, P. A. (2008). Best Practices for Managing Organizational Diversity. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 34(2), 101. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2007.12.001
- Krekel, C., Ward, G., & Neve, J. D. (2019). Employee well-being, productivity, and firm performance: evidence and case studies. Https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/102283/
- Kundu, S. K., & Mor, A. (2017). Workforce diversity and organizational performance: A study of IT industry in India. Employee Relations, 39(2), 160–183. Https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-06-2015-0114
- Maas, V. S., & Torres-González, E. (2011). Is the process perceived as fair? Examining procedural fairness in performance appraisal from the subordinate’s perspective. Team Performance Management, 17(7/8), 373–393. Https://doi.org/10.1108/13527591111187206
- Mahmood, M., & Absar, M. M. N. (2015). Human Resource Management Practices in Bangladesh: Current Scenario and Future Challenges. South Asian Journal of Human Resources Management, 2(2), 171. Https://doi.org/10.1177/2322093715599481
- Makasa, M., & Hapompwe, H. (2024). Reward-based performance management systems and employee motivation: Evidence from Zambian service industries. International Journal of Human Resource Studies, 14(1), 56–72.
- Mavriplis, C., & Croft, E. A. (2013, June 17). Leadership Development Programs for Women in Engineering Industry. Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA). Https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.v0i0.4875
- Mehari, A. T., Birbirsa, Z. A., & Dinber, G. N. (2024). The effect of workforce diversity on organizational performance with the mediation role of workplace ethics: Empirical evidence from food and beverage industry. Plos ONE, 19(7). Https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297765
- Monteiro, E., & Joseph, J. (2022). Establishing Healthy Workplaces: A Case Study on the Employee Well-Being Initiatives in the IT Sector. International Journal of Case Studies in Business IT and Education, 378. Https://doi.org/10.47992/ijcsbe.2581.6942.0203
- Neeley, T. B., & Dhanaraj, C. (2005). Cultural differences and the academy: International performance review practices and their impact. International Business Review, 14(3), 345–362.
- Ng, E. S., & Burke, R. J. (2022). Gender diversity in recruitment: Impression management and organizational legitimacy. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 33(15), 2987–3010. Https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2021.2004528
- Ng, C., & Mitter, S. (2005). Valuing women’s voices: call center workers in Malaysia and India. Gender, Technology and Development, 9(2), 209-233.
- Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). Mcgraw-Hill.
- Opada, F. M. M., Ibrahim, M. B. H., Irawan, A., Akbar, M. A., & Rasyid, A. (2024). Talent Acquisition Strategies: A Comprehensive Examination of Recruitment Policies for Organizational Success. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 2(2). Https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v2i2.185
- Oualid, A., Smith, J., & Patel, R. (2017). Human resource management and gender diversity in service industries: A comparative study of Western and emerging economies. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(12), 1725–1749.
- Patrick, H. A., & Kumar, V. R. (2012). Managing Workplace Diversity. SAGE Open, 2(2). Https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244012444615
- Pekuri, A., Haapasalo, H., & Herrala, M. (2011). Productivity and performance management–managerial practices in the construction industry. International Journal of Performance Measurement, 1(1), 39–58.
- Provost, T. J. (2024). Workplace Wellness: Assessing Organizational Return on Investment.
- Purandare, D. B. (2022). Designing effective performance management systems for objective measurement and continuous improvement. Journal of Business Strategy, 43(6), 15–24.
- R. J. (2014). Common beliefs and reality about PLS: Comments on Rönkkö and Evermann (2013). Organizational Research Methods, 17(2), 182–209. Https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114526928
- Rabby, A. H. (2024). Women Empowerment through Integrated Development Approach: A Case Study on Poverty Eradication Program (PEP). Journal of Judikaltura, 2(2), 15–32. https://doi.org/10.61963/jkt.v2i2.106
- Rabby, M. A., & Rahman, M. (2023). Consumer Observation on Retail Digitalization: A Study on Retail Sector of Bangladesh. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4, 776-787.
- Rabby, S. M. A. H., & Mumtahina, N. (2024). Sector-wise financial performance analysis of multinational corporations listed on the Dhaka stock exchange. Journal of Trends in Financial and Economics, 1.
- Rabby, S. M. A. H., Al Jubair, A., Nizhum, T. Z., & Haque, M. A. (2025). The impact OFAI-DRIVEN HR technologies on performance management and employee development: a study of the telecommunication sector in Bangladesh. Social Science and Management, 25.
- Ragins, B. R., Townsend, B., & Mattis, M. (1998). Gender gap in the executive suite: ceos and female executives report on breaking the glass ceiling. Academy of Management Executive, 12(1), 28–42. Https://doi.org/10.5465/ame.1998.254976
- Rahman, M., & Hasan, S. (2022). Employee perceptions of gender inclusivity in Bangladesh’s BPO sector: The role of HRM practices. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 14(3), 45–62.
- Rajashekar, S., & Jain, A. (2023). A Thematic Analysis on “Employee Engagement in IT Companies from the Perspective of Holistic Well-being Initiatives.” Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 36(2), 165. Https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-023-09440-x
- Ramli, S., Shaari, N., Rosnan, H., & Nor, N. M. (2024). Exploring the Influence of Organizational Culture, Organisational Structure and Pay Structure on Career Progression for Women in the Tech Industry. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 9, 123. Https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v9isi19.5778
- Ryan, A. M., & Tippins, N. T. (2004). Attracting and selecting: What psychological research tells us. Human Resource Management, 43(4), 305. Https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.20026
- Saad, R. M., Ahmad, M. Z., Abu, M., & Jusoh, M. S. (2014). Hamming Distance Method with Subjective and Objective Weights for Personnel Selection. The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 1. Https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/865495
- Sapra, M., Gupta, R., & Sharma, P. (2023). Performance-based incentives, kpis, and workplace inclusion: Linking performance appraisal fairness with employee perception. Human Resource Development Review, 22(1), 89–107.
- Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J. H., Becker, J. M., & Ringle, C. M. (2022). How to specify, estimate, and validate higher-order constructs in PLS-SEM. Australasian Marketing Journal, 27(3), 197–211. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ausmj.2019.05.003
- Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Hair, J. F. (2022). Partial least squares structural equation modeling. In Handbook of Market Research (pp. 587–632). Springer. Https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57413-4_15
- Senan, A., Tarek, Md. O. R., Amit, S., Rahman, I., & Kafy, A. – A. (2022). Re-opening the Bangladesh economy: search for a framework using a risk importance space. Spatial Information Research, 30(4), 539. Https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-022-00450-9
- Shen, J., Chanda, A., D’Netto, B., & Monga, M. (2009). Managing diversity through human resource management: An international perspective and conceptual framework. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(2), 235–251. Https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190802670516
- Shmueli, G., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J.-H., Ting, H., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). Predictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: Guidelines for using pls predict. European Journal of Marketing, 53(11), 2322–2347. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijforecast.2019.02.001
- Shore, L. M., Cleveland, J. N., & Sanchez, D. (2018). Inclusive workplaces: A review and model. Human Resource Management Review, 28(2), 176–189. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2017.07.003
- Singh, V., & Vinnicombe, S. (2019). Women’s leadership development programs: A review. Journal of Management Development, 38(2), 107–120. Https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-05-2017-0173
- Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., Smith, D., Reams, R., & Hair Jr, J. F. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM): A useful tool for family business researchers. Journal of family business strategy, 5(1), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2014.01.002
- Stone, M. (1974). Cross-validatory choice and assessment of statistical predictions. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series B (Methodological), 36(2), 111–147.
- Unity Connect. (2022, June 12). Ensuring gender equality in BPO: Challenges and compliance strategies. Unity Connect. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://unity-connect.com/our-resources/bpo-learning-center/bpo-and-gender-equality-laws/
- Wang, M. L., Narcisse, M., Rodríguez, K. J. O., & mcelfish, P. A. (2025). Gender Disparities in Job Flexibility, Job Security, Psychological Distress, Work Absenteeism, and Work Presenteeism among U.S. Adults. SSM - Population Health, 29, 101761. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2025.101761
- Woodhams, C., & Lupton, B. (2009). Analysing gender-based diversity in smes. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 25(2), 203. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scaman.2009.02.006
- Yousuf, M. (2014). Empowering Women in the Workforce: Leadership Roles. IPTC 2008: International Petroleum Technology Conference. Https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609-pdb.395.iptc-17316-ms








