Overview
In this course, we bring together the concepts of diversity management and organizational sustainability. Our goal is to increase your knowledge and understanding of effective diversity management practices to create the conditions for diversity and inclusion to flourish in your respective workplaces toward a more sustainable future. To facilitate this, we address a number of critical themes related to diversity and inclusion and conclude this course with an opportunity to integrate these themes into an effective and sustainable diversity management strategy.
Objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Define the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and organizational sustainability
- Examine the distinctions between personal and work-related identities and how these identities may come into conflict in the workplace
- Describe potential identity management strategies undertaken by individuals in the workplace to fit in and be accepted
- Investigate common barriers to EDI, such as unconscious biases, gendered stereotypes, other types of biases, internal policies and practices, and organizational culture and climate
- Explain how some approaches to diversity management have been ineffective
- Examine how to reframe and rethink approaches to diversity management
- Discuss the role of leaders in creating an environment in which diversity can flourish
- Examine the growing backlash against EDI and the need for leaders to potentially revisit how they communicate about inclusion and human rights
- Explore various steps leaders of teams and leaders of organizations might take to either continue, revise, or even begin their respective efforts to promoting more inclusive workplaces
Evaluation
To receive a passing grade in this course, you must meet these minimum standards:
- receive a minimum of 60% on the participation component (i.e., Discussion application); and
- receive an average grade of 60% over all course components.
Marks for this course will be distributed as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 25% |
| Assignment 2 | 35% |
| Participation in Discussions | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
As this is a readings course, no formal textbook is used. Course readings include articles from a variety of sources, such as academic and practitioner journals, professional publications, and internet resources, etc. The articles are periodically updated to ensure the readings reflect the latest trends and developments.