Response to #1
I began my search to expand the canon by going back to Fundamentals of Management, the textbook for the management course I took last semester. We did a unit on “Managing Human Resources and Diversity,” so I thought the endnotes of that chapter in the book would lead me to some interesting articles. The chapter covered the full range of diversity from gender to race to sexual orientation to age and more, so there were many possible angles to pursue. I used Summon on the SU library website to search for the scholarly articles, and I found other articles directly on the web from the links that were in the endnotes. I also did keyword searches using terms from our readings and from concepts I came across that I was jotting down as I did my research. One idea led to another and another. So far, I have downloaded about 25 mostly academic articles, and I have started skimming them looking for one that could be influential. Some articles are narrowly focused on a specific industry like healthcare or IT or are based on research in another country. I think I will choose an article that has a broader scope with a US focus probably written by an expert in human resources or management.
Response to #3
In “Understanding Key D&I Concepts,” authors Mark Kaplan and Mason Donovan aim to help managers understand the complex nature of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and point out ways they can adapt their behavior to have a more positive impact. In their own words, Kaplan and Donovan describe workplace diversity and inclusion as “a thousand-piece puzzle … [with] no picture on the box cover to show where the pieces might fit” (1). While their project has a broad scope, they make the concepts relatable by describing them in the context of a typical manager’s day. From their experience as management consultants, the authors understand that concepts such as “unconscious bias” are difficult to grasp yet must be understood before they can be addressed. That is why their method of highlighting moments where improvements can be made and offering possible solutions is so effective. While it is true that not every manager in the real world works in a structured organization like the one described, Kaplan and Donovan reveal many insights, share useful tips, and help managers understand that “good intent is not enough” (6). In other words, to improve workplace diversity and inclusion, managers must be active and not passive about it.
Dylan,
You make a good point about the Kaplan and Donovan article’s discussion of unconscious bias. I am particularly concerned with affinity bias which I believe is very prevalent. I think it can be somewhat natural to favor or find common ground with people that have a connection or similarity to us. If you and I met, we might talk about our experiences at Syracuse University perhaps like the Wharton crew described in the article. I guess the question is when does this affinity move from casual conversation to perhaps encouraging recruitment for employment or promotion? I have a family member that relates the story of her first job out of college. She was a Syracuse University graduate and Syracuse University graduate resumes were put to the top of the pile due to the company’s connection to the college. An example of affinity bias… Perhaps. The individual had a successful interview but was that due to extra encouragement from the interviewer or a smile that helped relax the interviewee? Was that individual the best person for the job or was it unconscious bias at work? I guess we’ll never know but it should make all of us think carefully about how we approach many situations.
Dylan, I think it was quite savvy of you to utilize the footnotes in a textbook from your management class! Often, we find ourselves segmenting what we have learned in various classes and not keeping in mind that everything is interrelated. The manner in which you conveyed what your process was in coming up with an article, was well written and I was able to imagine myself doing the same procedure. I am happy to see that your focus will be broad and centered on the U.S., as I think this is a bigger issue in America, where we need further introspection. I am excited to see what you come up with!
Agreed–none of us has to reinvent the wheel. We can start our research process by leapfrogging from the work of others, and that includes making use of their bibliographies. That’s a solid strategy!
Right–Kaplan and Donovan are trying to make a complex theoretical concept into something that their readers can genuinely understand, and they do so by anchoring the idea with real-life examples. We depend upon that approach whenever we’re learning about something new, and that instruction is at the core of their project in this text.