What is D&I?
Diversity and inclusion (D&I) management is the task of dealing with the variety and heterogeneity of employees in a meaningful way that benefits all.
Effective D&I management begins by differentiating between various forms of diversity. It is important to consider that surface-level features such as gender, age, and ethnicity as well as experience-related characteristics such as functional expertise, education and international experience can have varying influences on the performance of teams and organisations.
D&I management is about gaining a proper understanding of the unique dynamics of diversity within an organisation and then addressing them in a strategic way in order to promote inclusion, innovation, and learning and to avoid discrimination due to stereotypes. Only through attention to individual differences and the establishment of a culture of inclusion can diversity be translated into an opportunity and resource for both the company and its employees.
What are the benefits of diversity?
Our research shows that diversity can mainly offer three benefits to organisations.
First, diversity promotes variety in knowledge and perspectives that, in turn, can help teams to effectively deal with task complexity and enhance innovation, productivity, and performance.
Second, diverse teams possess non-overlapping networks that link the firm with its external environment and provide access to new resources, ideas and opportunities.
Third, by building diverse teams at all levels of the organisation, firms can encourage a culture of inclusion and signal to stakeholders that their organisation values the right to equal opportunities.
