- In their recent work, Gundemir et al offered harsh critiques of organizations lack diversity for higher level positions. The disproportionate number of White people vs BIPOC in positions like CEOs is disturbing and hard to understand given the stated researched benefits that increased diversity has on the workplace. Because of this discrepancy, the researchers of this article conducted two studies that investigate how a change in diversity mission statements/initiatives can impact the self-perceptions and goals minority groups.
I found the templates very useful. I am not sure if I picked this best one or accomplished what the prompt asked me to do but it was interesting to trial and error a bunch of them. I think templates are a great tool to model writing and help with beginning a writing piece. For me, that is where I struggle the most. I am curious to see the other prompts throughout the book.
3. Both articles discuss how the benefits that come from different forms of diversity in organizations. The ripple effect that can come from these articles is a deeper understanding of diversity that can improve current disparities. These articles have important results and examples that other companies can read and implement. As stated in the Gundemir article, having a diverse workforce has “positive outcomes such as increasing the quality of decision making, stimulating creativity, and enhancing performance”. Even though there is an increased awareness for workplace diversity and the benefits have been found through research, there still is a disconnect. How and when will there be real changes? Are these studies and ideas feasible for every company to implement? What are the barriers? These are all questions I had. Diversity clearly matters and is important, so I still am struggling to understand why people are so opposed to differences.
I had my brothers high school graduation yesterday! It was so nice to reconnect with family I have not seen since before the beginning of the pandemic.
Hi Joanna,
I think you utilized your template really well because your argument was very easy to grasp and see your opinion on the subject and how it tied into Gundemir et al’s argument. It flowed very nicely and proved your point well. I also thought that in your question #3 response, the questions you brought up were very thought provoking, especially the one asking if all companies could feasible implement the results of the studies.
Joanna–in your discussion of TSIS, you use the word “prompts,” and I think this is a helpful term to keep in mind. While some people might bristle at the idea of “templates,” we understand the value of a *prompt.* It’s a starting point for our thinking, a nudge to get ourselves moving when we’re not sure how to begin. I encourage you all to think about Graff and Birkenstein’s advice in this way.
As for your other point, as you note the articles that we’ve read so far focus largely on establishing the benefits of diversity and considering why it’s worth engaging with diversity in the workplace. There are still MANY unanswered (even unasked!) questions about all this, and that’s why we’re moving into research of our own now, to locate additional texts that will offer new perspectives, move into some of the practical issues, and give us more ways of thinking about and doing this work.