Month: June 2021

Reproducing inequity: the role of race in the business school faculty search

In Reproducing inequity: the role of race in the business school faculty search, Grier, a professor of marketing at American University, and Poole, a professor at the University of San Francisco examines diversity in business schools, why groups are underrepresented, and presents a qualitative study using the Critical Race Theory to examine components of race. The scholarly article dives deeper into five components of CRT analyzing why there is not a proportionate number of diverse faculty members to students. This includes: unchanged race and lasting racism, the interconnected nature of race with forms of subordination, the idea of one dominant ideology, experiential knowledge, and commitment to social justice. Grier also speaks about how many business schools only care about the ‘best athlete’ construct, where only outputs matter. Schools often do not take into account extra duties (inputs) of underrepresented minorities including mentoring diverse students and serving as token members in hiring committees. The article also illustrates that in order to be successful in promoting diversity, enthusiasm and promotion of diversity needs to come from everyone. Grier and Poole hope that the conversation on diversity in business schools continues through other scholars evaluating and promoting diversity within their own business schools.

Sonya A. Grier & Sonja Martin Poole (2020) Reproducing inequity: the role of race in the business school faculty search, Journal of Marketing Management, 36:13-14, 1190-1222, DOI: 10.1080/0267257X.2020.1800796

Link to article: https://doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2020.1800796

Alternate link to article (PDF): https://www-tandfonline-com.libezproxy2.syr.edu/doi/pdf/10.1080/0267257X.2020.1800796?needAccess=true

Discussion Questions Week of 6/21

Question 1

In anticipation of “expanding the canon” I started my research at the SU library with the intent of using some of the filters to narrow my search. This resources has been advantages in its ability to gather relevant texts that can I pull from in order to form a well rounded claim. The phrase that provided the best search results in support of my topic was “veterans and unemployment”. Many veterans find it difficult if not impossible to find employment after joining the military as a result of the trauma they faced while serving. Being that the readings we have covered thus far have taken the ideas of organizational culture/ diversity and  presented them with respect to a wide variety of people, I believe the topic of unemployment amongst veterans will highlight the intersectionality between these concepts. Moving forward, I plan on pulling articles that express the ideas of not only the veterans but of those who have influence in the hiring process and members of human resources departments at companies who strive to make an impact on the veteran unemployment rate. 

Question 2

In “The Inclusion Dividend: Why Investing in Diversity & Inclusion Pays Off” by Kaplan and Donovan, they express the difference between intention and action surrounding the topic of diversity. They make claims on how the vision of diversity in the mind can come to fruition in a way that does not reflect the true intent of the person who made those actions. Whereas in “Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage” by Austin and Pisano they reflect more on the change that needs to be made regarding diversity and organizational leadership rather than the though process behind it. 

In this week’s they say/ I say I was more comfortable with comparing the ideas of the two texts. This is due to the amount of practice I had with understanding the stances of each author separately and then comparing them throughout last week’s assignments. These templates have helped me understand my own beliefs through the analysis and comparison of the author’s own points of view.

A quick(ish) note on this week’s work and what we’re trying to do here

As you’ve probably noticed, you’re submitting all of your work this week through the blog, including the summaries, rather than through Blackboard. That’s by design. Summary is a crucial skill for research writing, so we’re spending a fair bit of time practicing and reflecting on it. You’ve had a chance to receive some private feedback, and now it’s time to open up your audience a bit–this way you’ll have the opportunity to give and to receive feedback from one another.

You can learn a lot by seeing how others summarize the same text as you–what they prioritize, how they define the source, what works well in their approach that might be different from your own.

Moving forward in the course, much of your writing work will be public in this way–on the blog, with your classmates reading and responding. That will provide valuable experience with writing for an authentic audience, which in turn will help you to improve your rhetorical agility. That’s a key aim of this course–to think about the ways in which writing and research are situational, flexing and adapting our work to our distinct purpose, audience, and context.

Now, obviously, this requires a degree of trust, and in a fully online setting where we don’t see one another’s faces and don’t have those same kinds of human interactions that we’re accustomed to in a classroom setting, we will need to work intentionally to build that trust. Trust will make it easier to put our writing out there, to accept constructive feedback, and to offer up our own valuable insights.

Here, I think that our growing knowledge of organizational culture can be a real asset. We know that cultures are built–they don’t just happen–and that they are manifestations of our shared values. I propose that we take a little time this week to reflect on what values we want to be sure we enact in our class community, in this organization that we’re making.

I’ll go first–one of the features of this section that I really value and that I’d like to build on is your openness about the diversity of your backgrounds and experiences. As a group, we represent different generations, different professional fields, different geographical areas, different ethnic and racial groups, and I really appreciate how you’ve been willing to sharing those differences and the unique perspectives you’ve developed as a result. I hope you’ll continue to do so. I think that communicating from where we are–honoring and acknowledging how we are situated–is really important.

Would you please chime in and comment on this post with your thoughts about the culture you’d like to see us build in this online community? What value do you propose we share? What practices do you propose we try to enact? What would you like to see us do/not do/prioritize/avoid?

Response 6/21

  1. I would like to “expand the canon” by researching about LGBTQIA+ diversity in the workforce. Currently, I do not know much about this topic. However, I think it is important to educate myself and others about it. For this assignment, I would like to read a variety of texts and watch a few videos. I think it is crucial to hear from researchers and experts, but more importantly personal narratives of those facing discrimination in the workplace based on their sexual or gender identity. I plan on gathering statistics to show how “real”, important, and widespread this issue truly is through using the Syracuse Library databases. I also think it would be interesting to reference specific companies that have implemented programs and resources to address this. Additionally, it would be helpful to hear from hiring managers and diversity leaders on their experience with this topic. Finally, I would like to find proposed solutions to fostering more inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community in the workplace.

2. In Kaplan and Donavan’s book, they argue that people generally have good intentions regarding inclusivity but can unconsciously overlook situations which can become hurtful and harmful. The authors urge readers to constantly consider the importance of diversity throughout our daily decisions. I agree with the authors claims and believe that this excerpt has the potential to spark change within because of the real and powerful story told about Kim.  Through sharing a day in the life of Kim , these authors have clearly identified detrimental patterns in the culture of careers and have provided solutions to address these issues.

I used components of my Kaplan and Donavan response to craft this one. I am still getting comfortable using the templates and I am questioning if I am doing it correctly. I was not sure if my “I say” was strong enough or even made sense but I wanted to try it out instead of using two of the “they say”.

Discussion 6/21

  1. In order for me to start expanding the canon on my own, I decided to look more into the themes of the previous works that we as a class were reading.  After isolating these themes that I picked out from our blog, I went immediately to the Syracuse library database to enter them into google search.  The themes I chose were diversity in the workplace, diversity in organizations, unconscious bias, intent vs impact, etc.  These topics were all aspects of the previous articles that I wanted to explore further.  The particular article I enjoyed the most so far has been the Kaplan and Donovan excerpt from chapter three of their book The Inclusion Dividend.  Therefore, I think that those themes are going to be the ones I explore the most.  Personally, I find this aspect of the class a bit difficult because I am not the biggest fan of sifting through various articles trying to find the ones that correspond the best to my argument.  I tend more towards picking the first articles I see and forming my argument around those main ideas instead of having my articles back up my thesis. 

3. The project that Mark Kaplan and Mason Donovan are working towards in chapter three of their book The Inclusion Dividend is to create more aware workplaces, especially in reference to inclusion of all outsider groups. These outsider groups are mentioned within the book as the minority age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or on education level, class, or geography.  The authors, through their text, are spreading the ways in which executives and other people in the insider groups in workplaces hinder growth from a diversity standpoint.  To execute their project, Kaplan and Donovan give examples of how companies can be exclusive through the use of a day-to-day storyline of a supervisor.  I enjoyed this set up because it actually showed me the whole picture of how places can inadvertently be exclusive.  Throughout the scenario there was not one part of the day when I could easily say that the executive was being intentionally biased; but when I took a step back it became obvious how elitist the department was. 

Discussion Questions Week of 6/21

1) As I was searching for an article that would be appropriate for the canon, I utilized the “Summons” search engine. I was interested in “peer reviewed”, “full text online” “journal articles” “past five years”. I found this type of search was able to initially narrow down my selection. At this point, I could continue to narrow my choices with terms such as “organizational diversity.”

One of the aspects that was of particular interest was analyzing how CEO’s indicated their diversity management policies to the employees. I don’t mean the flashy brochures and signage but rather the unspoken – read between the lines message. Can we somehow ascertain what they’re really thinking? Now, we’ve recently had political figures that let us know exactly what they’re thinking but this is rare. Usually only a select few know their true intentions. I began to wonder, were the CEO’s truly serious or just giving the concept of organizational diversity efforts “lip service”? How does this commitment or lack of commitment within the company result in the successful execution of diversity programs?

2) Robert Austin and Gary Pisano in their article, Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage content that discriminatory practices against hiring individuals with neurodiversity result in organizations missing out on valuable employees whereas in the article Understanding Key D&I Concepts, authors Mark Kaplan and Mason Donovan’s objective is to assist employers in comprehending the how diversity and inclusion policies can have a positive influence on organizations however the good intentions of these policies may have unexpected results.  It should be noted that Austin and Pisano report data from multiple organizations.  On the other hand, although Kaplan and Donovan provide an engaging example of various policies that had unanticipated impact there are no authentic illustrations of managing bias.

One point that I found particularly compelling in the Kaplan and Donovan article was the concept that by failing to appropriately assess employees can impact diversity and inclusion. Regrettably diversity and inclusion groups without this necessary feedback fail to improve and develop. When I think back on this concept, I can remember several instances in which managers took this approach.

In the Austin and Pisano article is filled with examples of neurodiversity success in organizations and the unexpected benefit of managers developing a better working relationship with all employees. The soft-skills that sometimes are overlooked in managers are critical attributes when dealing with neurodiverse individuals.

Discussion Questions Week of 6/21

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.

Discussion Questions Week of 6/21

Response# 1

As I read Robert Austin and Gary Pisano’s article, Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage, I was immediately reminded of HBO Max’s documentary “Persona: The Dark Truth Behind Personality Tests”. While viewing the film, I was utterly appalled when I learned how personality tests are used as a screening tool for employment, which unfairly discriminates against neurodivergent and other disabled people.  I think this is a topic in need of further exploration in the D&I arena. I have googled several articles and posts and discovered there is a field of study called Psychometrics meant to measure skills, attitudes and personality traits.  I think it will be helpful if I can find an article by a person in that field who disagrees with using personality tests as an employment screen.  So far, I have a report on algorithms and disability discrimination. Next, I will check out the SU library where I’ll look for any journals related to disability and Human Resources, as well as any on Psychometry.

Response #2

Although “Understanding D&I Concepts” from The Inclusion Dividend: Why Investing in Diversity & Inclusion Pays Off by Mark Kaplan and Mason Donovan offers us an incredibly insightful and detailed dissection of the meaning and implementation of crucial D&I concepts, the authors fail to mention real world examples of best practices for handling bias. Whereas Robert Austin and Gary Pisano’s Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage gives us a robust report on how to recognize discriminatory practices against the neurodivergent, as well as detailed plans from existing businesses on D&I implementation. As exhibited in Austin and Pisano’s piece, they have convincingly demonstrated to us that the reported strategies work, based on listed companies’ willingness to implement them.

As you can see above, I have utilized 2 theys and have tried to remain somewhat neutral in what my beliefs are. With that said, I still employed the use of descriptive and emphatic verbs to help get the point across that real world examples are important when recommending strategies for workplace improvement.

Attitudes of students toward people with disabilities, moral identity and inclusive education—A two-level analysis – Summary

The article written by Szumski, Smogorzewska, and Grygiel from the Research in Developmental Disabilities, explores the different attitudes that arise from students and what causes them when it comes to people with disabilities. The authors lay out the different concepts that contribute to these positive and negative thoughts that students are associating with disabled people. They discuss the actual attitudes that students have and the implications of those attitudes; the determinants of when people are aware of the attitudes that they have and how they differ for people with disabilities and people without them; and they put emphasis on how prosocial behaviors are influenced by moral identity. They also include throughout all three concepts the importance of inclusive learning environments and the different effects that come out of them. The two main focuses on the study are the idea of moral identity, what causes it and what it itself causes, and the difference that learning in an inclusive environment can make. The overall results are the study are very important for future education practices because hopefully, it will decrease the negative attitudes towards people with disabilities. Not to mention, starting with younger kids is a good way to hopefully have them thinking positively their entire lives.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891422220301153

Austin and Pisano Summary

“Neurodiversity as a competitive advantage” by Austin and Pisano is an analysis of the effects current workplace standards have on the Neurodiverse. From onboarding to the criteria for promotion, members of the Neurodiverse community often go overlooked and struggle to find employment as a result. Austin and Pisano refer to the Neurodiverse community as an “untapped pool of talent” and support their claim through the use of various studies that prove Neurodiverse people to be more than capable of completing the jobs they are qualified for. The idea that “Innovation is most likely to come from parts of us that we don’t all share.” reflects the core ideas of this text. This article not only raises awareness around the lack of diversity for the Neurodiverse within global workplace settings, but it also shows examples of the prospects of cultivating equity and promoting inclusion.