Beyond the business case for diversity and inclusion: Approaches to promoting organizational diversity

Abstract

This teaching activity explores whether the meaningful communication case for diversity in groups, organizations, and communities rests in ideas of justice, equity, and basic employee responsibilities and rights (O’Leary & Weathington, 2006. Beyond the business case for diversity in organizations. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 18(4), 283–292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-006-9024-9) rather than in the business case. This article responds to neoliberal multiculturalism to articulate how a justice case for diversity might instead be presented in the classroom. The justice case may provide a more robust orientation to diverse communicators in future small group, organizational, and community contexts.

Courses: Communication Theory, Organizational Communication, Small Group Communication.

Objectives: This activity introduces students to two major rationales for organizational diversity—the business case and the social justice case—and allows exploration of how attitudes toward diversity might be affected by challenges presented in diverse organizations. The debriefing discussion encouraged students to explore the arguments for diversity presented by each case and the resilience of pro-diversity arguments in light of possible challenges. This activity can also be used as a prompt for students to reflect on the arguments for diversity presented across the curriculum.