The study evaluates the impact of the 2022 Dutch gender quota law for supervisory boards
in listed technology firms by examining performance outcomes, governance approaches, and
strategic elements. The research sought to answer an essential question in Management of
Technology about how externally imposed diversity requirements affect leadership structures
and adaptive capabilities, which innovation-driven companies need to maintain competitiveness.
The research employed a mixed-methods research approach using quantitative panel data
regressions, Difference-in-Differences models, event studies, and qualitative interviews with
board members and executives to generate comprehensive insights about early law impacts.
Research findings showed that gender diversity among supervisory board members in technology companies produced positive effects on market valuation and capital investment prior to
the quota introduction. The market results after implementing the quota showed that higher
diversity levels corresponded to slight reductions in profitability indicators, without claiming
causality. The study revealed no direct financial consequences between firms that were subject to quota requirements and those that already complied with gender diversity regulations.
The post-quota period revealed stronger market valuation results among technology firms than
their non-tech industry counterparts which indicates high absorptive capacity.
The qualitative results delivered fundamental insights by showing technology firms already
integrated gender diversity into their cultural frameworks. Yet they struggled to replace departing directors and obtain suitable candidates for succession roles. Board members often
described the quota as formalising existing priorities rather than fundamentally transforming
boardroom functioning, though it did prompt more frequent discussions about diversity within
nomination committees and governance processes. Directors expressed worries about tokenism along with fairness issues specifically when quota requirements clashed with their preferred internal candidates, while others saw value in the new conversations and gradual cultural shifts taking place.
The research findings demonstrate that the quota law successfully transformed supervisory
board demographics but it did not create short-term strategic or financial problems. True strategic integration of diversity into technology firms’ leadership decisions for innovation trajectory
management requires elements that surpass basic numeric compliance. The quota’s most notable impacts so far appear to lie not in direct financial outcomes, but in subtly reshaping how
companies discuss, prioritise, and institutionalise diversity as part of their broader governance
and organisational strategies.

The company invented a product that can monitor vulnerable people. It is important that they know exactly where their products are located. If a situation occurred where a vulnerable person needs immediate help, first responders can use the knowledge of the location to get to the patient as fast as possible. This thesis investigates if a modular localization solution can be designed for this product. The product will always be located in an indoor environment, which is a difficult place to establish the location. A modular solution is interpreted as a system that has parts that are replaceable. Some parts can be switched out for different parts with the same functionality, with the system still working properly. In order to design this system according to the requirements, the design process was divided in hardware and software. Both were designed in a modular way, yet eventually implemented in one specific way. This was done to get a tangible prototype that could be evaluated and tested. Improvements to the system were also designed, however could not be implemented in time. Nonetheless, the resulting system works well under conditions of intended use. There were some conditions in which the system performed less than required, however this should be fixed once the improvements are implemented. The results indicate that the localization system that is needed for the company's product is possible to be implemented. The next step is to research whether parts of the modular system can be replaced by an improvement. Then the system can be tested in more distinct working conditions, which could not be done during this project. If the system passes these tests, it is ready to be integrated with the other subsystems of the product, such that the company can bring their product to the market.