Integrating the CADDIS model of agency and the SPACE model of communality to explain penalties and rewards for agentic women in leadership
Prof. Anyi MA
Assistant Professor
Department of Management and Human Resources
Wisconsin School of Business
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Date: 28 January 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 10:30-12:00
Venue: E22-G015
Host: Prof. Feng BAI, Associate Professor in Management
Abstract
Assessments of agentic perceptions are central to gender and leadership research. However, there is ambiguity about the definition, content, and structure of agency. Based on a review of how agency has been operationalized in the gender and leadership literature over the past 44 years, I developed and validated a new six-factor model of agency, CADDIS (i.e., Competent agency, Ambitious agency, Dominant agency, Diligent agency, Independent agency, and Self-assured agency). I found that the CADDIS model of agency led to a different understanding of past conclusions—an agentic advantage occurred when women were perceived to possess competent agency, diligent agency, and independent agency, and an agentic disadvantage occurred when women were perceived to possess dominant agency. I will also discuss an ongoing project about the SPACE (i.e., Self-sacrificing, Passive-Aggressive, Compassionate, and Ethical) model of communality, its relationship with agency, and implications for gender and leadership.
Speaker
Prof. Anyi MA is an Assistant Professor of Management at Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison. She studies how perceptions of agency shape women’s leadership opportunities, revealing when traits like ambition or dominance constrain women, and when they become sources of advantage. I also examine how employees’ sense of agency and control influences decisions, relationships, and workplace outcomes.
All are welcome!
