RSC6: The promise of diversity management for climate of inclusion: A state-of-the-art review and meta-analysis.

Exploring the paper Mor Barak, M.E., Lizano, E.L., Kim, A., Duan, L., Rhee, M.K., Hsiao, H.Y. and Brimhall, K.C., 2016. The promise of diversity management for climate of inclusion: A state-of-the-art review and meta-analysis. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 40(4), pp.305-333.

Blog one of five, in a series by Dr Chrissi McCarthy.

Welcome to the sixth instalment of our research-to-social cycle (RSC) blogs, where we examine a research paper that has had a big impact on our thinking and explore it through a day-to-day lens.

The week ahead

Weve spoken quite a bit about what can go wrong in EDI work, so maybe its time we thought about what can go right.

Mor Barak, M.E., Lizano, E.L., Kim, A., Duan, L., Rhee, M.K., Hsiao, H.Y. and Brimhall, K.C. reviewed 30 sudies over 20 years and found clear themes. That while approaches with a sole focus on diversity had fluctuating outcomes. Work positioned around inclusivity was consistently associated with positive outcomes. So lets consider what that means to us in practice.

As we go through the week, I would encourage you to refer back to the paper. Please do read it, cite it and share it. Then tell us what you thought. Did we sum it up well? Perhaps you feel we misunderstood something or left out a key point? Let us know. Discussion is at the heart of learning.

The paper: The Promise of Diversity Management for Climate of Inclusion:
A State-of-the-Art Review and Meta-Analysis

Year: 2016

Authors: Michàlle E. Mor Baraka, Erica Leeanne Lizanob, Ahraemi Kimc, Lei Duand, Min-Kyoung Rheee, Hsin-Yi Hsiaod, and Kimberly C. Brimhallf

Blog 1: Introducing R2SC 6

Blog 2: Why this paper matters

Blog 3: How do they know what they know (research methods)

Blog 4: What they found

Blog 5: What this means for practice

What are the Research-to-Social Cycles?

Not everyone has the time or luxury to get up close with academic research in EDI, and even if they do, they might not have stumbled upon these particular papers.

So we want to bring you closer to the research we find important by introducing you to a new research paper on the third Monday of each month, along with up to five blogs across that week.

Research to social cycle

We will discuss the research, its real-world impact, and how you can implement its findings. Perhaps importantly, these blogs will be written by humans rather than generative AI, so we can really understand the human element of the research and why it matters to us. (Note: I will never not be using Grammarly).

The idea behind the Research-to-Social Cycle blog series is to help bridge the research-practice gap in EDI. Currently, valuable research insights are being missed, which hinders our ability to improve our practice and our environments.

We hope you enjoy the series. Please let us know if we have successfully brought you closer to EDI research, so you can implement what is helpful in your practice.

Here is our schedule for 2025:

Published: RSC1 Jun – Blogs start here

McCarthy, C., Barnard, S., Thomson, D. and Dainty, A., 2021. Understanding gender equality policy and practice gaps through the lens of organisational justice: Development of an employee alignment model. Frontiers in Sociology, 6, p.681086.

Published: RSC2 Jul Blogs start here

Van den Brink, M. and Benschop, Y., 2012. Slaying the seven‐headed dragon: The quest for gender change in academia. Gender, Work & Organization, 19(1), pp.71-92.

Published: RSC3 Aug Blogs start here

Leslie, L.M., 2019. Diversity initiative effectiveness: A typological theory of unintended consequences. Academy of Management Review, 44(3), pp.538-563.

Published: RSC4 Sept Blogs start here

Kleinman, S. and Copp, M., 2009. Denying social harm: Students’ resistance to lessons about inequality. Teaching Sociology, 37(3), pp.283-293.

Published: RSC5 Oct

Kaiser, C.R., Major, B., Jurcevic, I., Dover, T.L., Brady, L.M. and Shapiro, J.R., 2013. Presumed fair: ironic effects of organizational diversity structures. Journal of personality and social psychology, 104(3), p.504.

This months blog RSC6