Article Review
Title:
“We just can’t handle diversity”-A research roundup
Author:
Lisa Burrell
Harvard Business
Review-July-August 2016, Pg 65-68
The article is about
diversity at workplace. All researchers and practitioners agree that diverse
work force is better for improving decision making, problem solving,
creativity, innovation and flexibility. Similarly technically we believe that
recruitment and compensation should be on merit. However, the author points out
that it does not happen the way in reality.
The author cites
contribution of other researchers, Rivera, states that often recruiting teams
tend to go for selecting candidates who fit in stereotypes especially if they
have doubts about the others. She adds that while giving final decisions interviewers
shifted focus from candidates’ performance to their own ‘gut feel’. S. Johnson
and D Hekman of University of Colorado found that women and minority who push
for diversity are punished by their organizations whereas men don’t.
The author points out
that, senior leaders in organizations need to appreciate understand the
inequities since they have the power and position to make changes. However,
they may lose sight of what hurdles they faced in similar junior positions. A
recent research by Ohio State University’s Robert Lount Jr and team shows that
it is assumed by us that diversity will spark interpersonal conflict.
The article concludes
by citing behavioral economist, Daniel Kahneman, who states that we are
fundamentally overconfident, so we make quick interpretations and automatic judgments.
But organizations think and move slowly. They actually have a chance of
improving decision making. Most of us should therefore believe that, diversity
improves performance, and people who apply themselves and perform well should
be treated fairly.
Dr. Mrs. S. T.
Aurangabadkar
Director
