The Kaplan and Donovan article explored several inclusion concepts as well as detailed explanations of each so that the readers can be left with a deeper understanding of the different components of inclusion. The article is written for the Dagoba group which is an organization that aims to educate leaders on ways to implement and encourage inclusion in their organizations. While reading, one part that stuck out to me was when the authors were discussing Intent and Impact and wrote “Intent Frequently does not equal impact…in order to move the company forward though, leaders intentions have to create a desired impact.” This immediately reminded me current events because Ikea, a Scandinavian furniture chain has been facing a lot of backlash for its “Juneteenth Menu” by it’s Black employees because this action was deeply offensive. This is a prime example of intent not matching impact because Ikea may have thought that it would be a nice gesture, but the impact it had was not what was intended. This article shows how much we deal with issues of inclusion on a day to day basis while also communicating the importance of taking the time to educate yourself and try to apply these concepts in order to foster a more inclusive environment.
Category: Discussions/Homework
Discussion Questions Week 3
Response to #1
The reading in this unit that stood out to me the most was the Austin and Pisano article about neurodiversity. As a result, I would like to focus on neurodiversity in the workplace. The Austin and Pisano article focused a lot on the benefits of neurodiverse individuals, along with how to get them into specific industries which could use their skillsets. However, I would like to focus on areas or industries where there is already an underrepresentation in the industry, the struggles that they have with adding neurodiverse individuals, and see if there is any room for change. In order to have the most success in finding an article which interests me, I plan on using google, as well as the SU library database using key words to narrow down my search. I plan on using the filter features on the SU database, as I believe that this will help me narrow down the results and find something that is relevant towards our class. Some of the filters I plan on using to have an article that is credible and relevant in today is to have the filter set for articles published in the past five years, as well as journal articles. After I have found an article that meets these criteria, I plan on googling the author to make sure that they are respected individuals within that field. The experts I believe that would be relevant would be people in academia, or people in the corporate world who have experience dealing with neurodiverse individuals. So far, I have had success using these techniques to find articles which would be relevant and interesting to research more on.
Response to #2
In their article, Austin and Pisano highlight the fact that people with neurodiverse conditions are not taken full advantage of due to conventional recruitment tactics. In addition, they state some of the benefits associated with neurodiverse individuals, along with ways to get them involved in the workplace. Although Austin and Pisano do not say so directly, they acknowledge that accommodations for neurodiverse individuals often involve extreme amounts of effort and change within the organization. In their recent work, Kaplan and Donovan have found that having good intentions does not always mean that there will be a positive impact. Kaplan and Donovan argue that to have a positive impact on diverse individuals there must be constant changes taking place in the organization in order to accommodate and help diverse individuals grow. This is similar to Austin and Pisano as they both illustrate that in order to accommodate diverse individuals, many things have to change in the workplace. Along with this, both articles stated the fact that it is often difficult for people who do not have the same background as diverse individuals to help them grow, as they do not understand where they are coming from, or their personal needs.
Discussion Questions Week 3
1.
I would like to look more into diversity among neurological disorders and different occasions and people who participate and are affected by it. As someone who has ADD and has needed a little extra help in school to do the best possible work that I can, I find the topic as a whole very interesting. I understand that that is not as extreme as what Austin and Pisano discussed in their article, but I am able to relate to somewhat of what they were saying. I also think that this is a kind of diversity that is overlooked and there needs to be a larger focus on it. I think that the experts to talk about this would be people who study neurological disorders and people who work on recruiting and hiring people to work for a company. They can both discuss the different sides to the hiring process and working with the company that will provide helpful and important information.
2.
While Kaplan and Donovan ague that while people may have the right intentions when it comes to diversity and/or inclusion, it is not more or less important than following through and allowing actions to match up with ideas. Austin and Pisano agree that diversity and inclusion need to take place but are less focused on the intentions and more focused on the outcome.
I had a hard time coming up with a statement because both articles discuss similar ideas that I agree with. That being said it was not easy to come up with a way that they “disagreed” or had “contradicting” ideas. However, after thinking about both articles and looking them back over I noticed that the idea of intentions behind the actions differed just a little bit. While I definitely think that like Kaplan and Donovan discussed that the intensions are important, I do think that in the end at least we are getting somewhere and are treating people like they should be treated, as equals.
Kaplan and Donovan Summary
In the article Kaplan and Donovan cover very important and sometimes overseen issues that take place in a workspace. They do so by explaining the typical day of “Kim” who is a woman who works with a handful of different people. They walk through her day and then talk about what actions of hers needs attention because they are things that affect co-workers in ways Kim might not have seen.
They discuss impact vs. intension which is the overreaching theme of Kims actions. While her intension of her words and actions might be positive and most likely are, some people will see it differently and possibly feel offended. They also discuss ways that companies may tell their workers that they are different without saying the words and how that needs to stop being over looked. Between unconscious bias, insider-outsider dynamics and levels as systems are concepts that make some workers feel inferior to their co-workers.
The authors point is that diversity and inclusion is important and these concepts that companies use are doing the opposite of inclusion. These are things that need to be looked over and figured out how they can be eliminated all together so that everyone in the workplace feels comfortable and equal.
Kaplan And Donovan Summary
To some, unpacking the nuances of how to implement Diversity and Inclusion in everyday workplace interactions may seem like a daunting task. In the article The Inclusion Dividend: Why Investing in Diversity & Inclusion Pays Off by Mark Kaplan and Mason Donovan, we find a helpful and insightful exploration of four inclusion concepts and examples of how to apply them at work. The authors’ analysis includes discussion on intent and impact, unconscious bias, insider-outsider dynamics and levels of systems.
Kaplan and Donovan employ a clever technique to immediately engage readers. They tell a relatable story about female executive, Kim’s day at work. Throughout the piece, the authors point to her interactions with co-workers as “case studies” on how not to manage common workplace scenarios vis-a-vis the lens of inclusion. The authors provide a thoughtful, yet no-nonsense approach in breaking down the actions that led to the executive’s missteps, as well as what alternative measures, through implementation of the four concepts, would have been better.
Those that are new to D & I often focus on the benefits of diversity in an organization but not how important the role inclusion plays. The Inclusion Dividend: Why Investing in Diversity & Inclusion Pays Off reminds us that how we manage the impact of our biases is a vital skill that must be learned and developed.
Kaplan & Donovan Summary
In the article, Kaplan and Donovan claim that it is difficult for managers to embrace differences in the workplace due to unconscious bias’, insider-outsider group dynamics, and the idea of different levels in systems. They also suggest that good intentions are often not matched with a positive impact. For example, the article speaks about, Kim, a manager, going into a separate cafeteria only available to a small population. Although the intent is to create a quite space for upper management, it comes off as elitist because of separation from the rest of the employee population.
The authors also illustrate that by giving uniform performance reports, Kim is damaging the opportunity for organizational growth. The article speaks that it is difficult to review others who are different from us, as people are often unaware of the other person’s needs. As a result, the author states that daily actions as well as reflecting on our own biases are essential to foster diversity and inclusion.
After reading the article, I support the idea that changing daily processes are essential in promoting diversity and inclusion. Continuous development and growth are required and can only be done by matching intent with impact within the organization.
Discussion Questions Week 3
Response to #1
When it comes to my addition of valuable texts that will expand our “canon”, I want to focus on the neglect of disability. However, as we have seen how those with disabilities have been treated in the workforce, I want to research how they are treated in the health care workforce. I began thinking about this after reading Pisano’s article about neurodiversity. In the past, neurodiversity, and disability, when introduced into a business-type setting, could have been seen as foreign to uneducated and biased people. However, I want to explore what happens when these people are introduced into a legally supposed setting to cater to them and help them. I have been googling my topic, trying to find a majority of articles, and then will want to hone in on a reoccurring theme between them. I hope that once I find this theme or idea that I want to follow up on, Summon Libraries will have an article that encompasses it well.
Response to #2
For this week’s template exercise, I decided to use two “theys.” The articles I will be referring to are Pisano’s and Kaplan and Donovan’s. My attempt reads:
Pisano reminds us through SAP’s experience that by acquiring people in the workforce that see differently, employees won’t all look in the same direction for an answer, while Kaplan and Donovan acknowledge that while having the good intention of hiring diverse employees, the desired impact will only be tangible if there is common ground. Kaplan and Donovan do not suggest avoiding diverse employees but rather encourage the balance between intent and effect, which all happens by being aware of words and behavior.
This template was harder for me than the previous weeks’ attempt. However, it was easier for me to make my point by using two “theys” because the ideas bounce off each other, and I did not have to think too hard yet about my opinion and input. I am glad I did two theys first because now I will feel more confident about creating a “they say/i say” sentence.
Kaplan and Donovan Summary
Kaplan and Donovan’s article drew upon the importance of visual maps regarding diversity and inclusion. The article starts by going into detail about a manager’s day and then explains each key inclusion concept. Key concepts then are seen, such as intent and impact, unconscious bias, insider-outsider dynamics, and levels as systems. By learning about “Kim”, readers know that good intent does not always mean good impact. Kaplan and Donovan use these key concepts to explain Kim’s day in the office. Failures of intent can get even worse when diversity is a goal. Kaplan and Donovan clarify that because we aren’t educated about everyone around us, our “unconscious bias” blurs the reality that we perceive. Insider-outsider dynamics often create a decorrelation between intent and impact. When talking about unconscious bias, ultimately, in the recruitment process, it takes place, causing a plethora of candidates not to be seen or heard. With insider-outsider dynamics, it is explained that there are unfair advantages for insiders, while there is a disadvantage for outsiders. When it comes to levels as systems, Kaplan and Donovan define four levels that help to understand successful inclusion. The authors then explain what Kim could have done differently and how she could have applied these key concepts to create healthy inclusion. This hypothetical situation is very relatable, I would assume, to many managers, which produces almost a guideline for those reading it. Kaplan and Donovan’s main points they want readers to take away are that when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the workforce, good intent does not always mean good outcomes, small changes can have a drastic positive effect, and continual development is needed to fully understand each other.
Discussion prompts for Week of 6/21
This week you’ll begin injecting into this conversation about diversity and inclusion that we’ve been reading about. Each of you will suggest an article to add to this body of information, so that we can all continue to expand our understanding of the issues. Please be sure to reread the last page of the the Unit 1 assignment sheet (linked below).
First, a quick refresher on rhetorical situation. This is the idea that everything is written by someone, for someone, for some purpose, and within some broader context. Considering these different elements of a text can give us a window into how the text works, why it looks the way it does, whether it is likely to be successful for its intended reader, etc. You’ve already seen rhetorical situation represented in visual form like this:
Just a little something to keep in mind as we move into discussion for the week–we’ll be thinking a lot this week about how authors respond to their writing situation in order to produce successful communications, and in particular about how an author’s audience connects to his/her purpose in writing.
On to the prompts–this week everyone should respond to the 1st question and then select 1 of the other 2 to answer. Responses should be >150 words each. Please tag your responses with “unit1,” “weekof6/21,” and [your name]. Categorize as “Discussions.”
- It’s time to get moving along with your unit 1 assignment. For this assignment, you will be adding to the set of sources we’re reading about diversity and organizational culture (which amount to a canon of sorts–a collection of important texts). We’ll expand this canon by suggesting additional valuable resources. So, for your first discussion post this week, please tell us a little about how you’re doing that: what kinds of material are you looking for? what topic are you following up on? what sort of expert(s) do you think we need to hear from? how are you looking (i.e. what particular databases or search tools are you using)? what techniques or strategies are proving helpful?
- This week’s readings move from the theoretical conversation about diversity that unfolds in the pages of scholarly journals to the practical–consideration of what is actually involved in creating and maintaining a diverse workforce, this time through the lens of (dis)ability. Let’s start to put the pieces together, as we’re adding to our growing foundation of knowledge: construct a they say/I say sentence (or series of sentences) that connects one of this week’s readings about disability inclusion with one of the readings from the last 2 weeks. (There are a number of templates in chapter 2 of TSIS that might help you with this work.) You are welcome to include yourself as an I in this formulation, but you may also choose to use 2 theys here–i.e. While Austin and Pisano contend that…. Kaplan and Donovan suggest that… Be creative, and use this work to further your understanding both of the texts you’re employing, as well as your own perspective.
- In chapter 1 of Rewriting, Joe Harris asks us to consider a writer’s project when we’re trying to make sense of a particular text. That is, he encourages us to think of “something far more complex than a main idea, since it refers not to a single concept but to a plan of work, to a set of ideas and questions that a writer ‘throws forward (Latin, pro + jacare)” and to recognize that “a project is something that a writer is working on–and that a text can only imperfectly realize” (Harris 17). Thinking in these terms, how would you characterize the project that Kaplan and Donovan undertake in “Key D&I Concepts”? That is, what do you think they are “working on” in this article? (Review Harris’s steps at the bottom of page 15.)
Discussion 6/14
- It has become common today for diversity in leadership positions to be ignored and overlooked despite statistics proving that more diversity results in more productivity, creativity, and altogether, a much better atmosphere. For about the past twenty years there has been little to no change regarding this problem, which indicates that many companies do not see this diversity issue as it really is. Gundemir et al addresses the problem in the article The Impact of Organizational Diversity Policies on Minority Employees’ Leadership Self-Perceptions and Goals and mentions ways to potentially address it, such as Multiculturalism or Value-in-Individual Differences policies.
I decided to use the prompt “It has become common today to dismiss…” but chose to exclude the “to dismiss” part because I thought that saying exactly what was common better accentuated my point. The reason I decided on this prompt was because many of the others required more of my opinion, something that was assumed, or more of a debate set up. Personally, those templates did not appeal to me due to the nature of the article and how I interpreted it. I utilized the chosen template to state the problem and then used my next sentence to bring up the potential solutions Gundemir et al suggested. Templates are very useful to me because I usually get stuck writing when I do not have some form of guidance so I am enjoying learning more from Graff and Birkenstein.
3. The decisions companies make have the ability to impact everyone that already works for them and those attempting to get hired. Both the Gundemir et al article The Impact of Organizational Diversity Policies on Minority Employees’ Leadership Self-Perceptions and Goals and the Austin and Pisano article address the need for more diversity in the workplace, whether racial diversity in leadership positions or an increase in neurodivergence people. Both articles talk about how the increase in diversity in either aspect results in positive outcomes and, in many cases, increases in productivity. Specifically, from Austin and Pisano’s article we know that the reason neurodivergence in so important is due to the fact that many neurodivergent people are able to recognize patterns and certain aspects of their jobs that many neurotypical people do not pick up on. Unfortunately, due to the hiring process these individuals are more often than not overlooked because of the very rigid criteria that many neurodivergent people do not consciously abide by, such as difficulty interviewing, ability to demonstrate emotional intelligence, being a team player, etc. It is important to bring awareness to the companies that could really benefit from the inclusion of neurodivergent people and have an increase of diversity everywhere.
Something fun that happened this past week was that my friends from Syracuse stayed with me so I was able to show them around the Philly area and down the shore before they had to travel back to Scotland where they’re from.