
From Diversity to Inclusion to Equity: A Theory of Generative Interactions
Definitions Introduction Research has demonstrated that investments in diversity and inclusion efforts implemented by organizations throughout the United States have not effectively improved institutional racial equity or reduced staff and leader racial biases. This paper by Bernstein, Bulger, Salipante, and Weisinger identifies organizational practices that promote generative interactions and successfully advance institutional racial inclusion and…
Read MoreThe Business Case for Diversity Backfires: Detrimental Effects of Organizations’ Instrumental Diversity Rhetoric for Underrepresented Group Members’ Sense of Belonging
Introduction As organizations become more aware of the importance of diversity as a tool to attract and retain employees, more of them are actively choosing to communicate why they celebrate diversity. Companies frequently express their commitment to diversity by outlining the reasons why diversity is important through their organizational diversity cases. There are two general…
Read MoreOrganizational Change and the Chief Diversity Officer: A Case Study of Institutionalizing a Diversity Plan
Introduction The benefits of diversity in educational environments are well documented – diversity in the classroom helps to prepare students to live in a global world, enhance civic engagement, and reduce racism. On the other hand, there has been little research conducted on how educational institutions can achieve such diversity. Specifically, the impact of diversity…
Read MoreBait and Switch: Representation, Climate, and Tensions of Diversity Work in Graduate Education
Introduction Historically, students who are admitted to and matriculate from graduate programs do not reflect the racial diversity of the US population at large. Most American graduate programs are comprised predominantly of white students while Black, Indigenous, and students of color make up a much smaller relative percentage. This is especially true for programs in…
Read MoreBoard Diversity and Organizational Valuation: Unravelling the Effects of Ethnicity and Gender
Introduction A board of directors is a crucial aspect of an organization’s leadership. Members are instrumental in shaping a company’s mission, goals, and financial success. Historically in Western culture, seats on boards of directors have been largely homogeneously dominated by those who have held political and economic power in those societies – white men. This…
Read MoreEstablishing a Diversity Program is Not Enough: Exploring the Determinants of Diversity Climate
INTRODUCTION Since 2020 we have seen more employers establish diversity programs to promote values of diversity within an organization. Yet, few have acknowledged existing research that has challenged the implementation and efficacy of diversity programs at the managerial and staff levels. This summary examines this earlier research by focusing on one study to show that…
Read MoreThe White Pages: Diversity and the Mediation of Race in Public Business Media
Introduction As principles of diversity and inclusion become more explicit within Corporate America, there remains a discrepancy between commitments to and actualization of racial parity in corporations, particularly among corporate leadership. In this article, the authors evaluate corporate policies and contrast legally enforceable Affirmative Action policies that acknowledge the history and disparate impacts of slavery…
Read MoreDoes Diversity-Valuing Behavior Result in Diminished Performance Ratings for Non-White and Female Leaders?
Introduction Despite the gains in representation that non-white people and women have attained in theworkplace, they remain considerably underrepresented in leadership roles at large companies.These gaps in representation are particularly jarring in light of the absence of significantdisparities in performance ratings between men and women (Joshi et al., 2015). Growingevidence also shows women are often…
Read MoreBest Practices or Best Guesses? Assessing the Efficacy of Corporate Affirmative Action and Diversity Policies
Introduction Over the past several decades, there has been an increase in efforts to diversify the American corporate workforce. In 2018, the employment search engine Indeed saw an 18% increase in diversity and inclusion job postings from the previous year, and a 2017 report indicated that about $8 billion is spent annually on diversity training.…
Read MoreWhy Diversity Programs Fail
Introduction Corporations around the world have recognized the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workforce. A diverse workforce not only strengthens productivity, creativity, employee engagement, and profits, but also helps maintain company reputation. In this article, Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev examine why traditional diversity programs are not successful in increasing equality and diversity…
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