Redefining Diversity Raghav Singh Chris Callahan

Raghav Singh Partner at the A-List Chris Callahan Founder, Ingenium Staffing Solutions

Raghav Singh

Partner at the A-List

Chris Callahan

Founder, Ingenium Staffing Solutions

Agenda The value of diversity Expanding the definition Making a business case Integrating diversity with recruitment

The value of diversity

Expanding the definition

Making a business case

Integrating diversity with recruitment

The Value of Diversity ?

The “Business Case” In a global marketplace, a company that employs a diverse workforce is better able to understand the demographics of the marketplace it serves and is thus better equipped to thrive in that marketplace than a company that has a more limited range of employee demographics. - Wikipedia

In a global marketplace, a company that employs a diverse workforce is better able to understand the demographics of the marketplace it serves and is thus better equipped to thrive in that marketplace than a company that has a more limited range of employee demographics.

- Wikipedia

The Benefits Better serve customers Higher employee satisfaction Higher productivity Higher retention

Better serve customers

Higher employee satisfaction

Higher productivity

Higher retention

Outperformed the DOW by 48% over the last 10 years!

Outperformed the DOW by 48% over the last 10 years!

DJIA: Jan 1, 1997 6813 to Dec 31, 2007 13264 Increase 9.5% per year + 48% 14% per year NYSE Companies that match 399

The Value Proposition Diversity ? Innovation Teamwork Customer Satisfaction Productivity

Empirical Research The Paradoxical Effects of Diversity, 2004 Thomas Kochan MIT E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century, 2007 Robert D. Putnam Harvard University

The Paradoxical Effects of Diversity, 2004

Thomas Kochan

MIT

E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century, 2007

Robert D. Putnam

Harvard University

Measures Commitment Innovation Teamwork Exploring new perspectives

Commitment

Innovation

Teamwork

Exploring new perspectives

Findings No impact of race and gender diversity on team performance or bonuses Gender diversity improved teamwork Racial diversity inhibited teamwork

No impact of race and gender diversity on team performance or bonuses

Gender diversity improved teamwork

Racial diversity inhibited teamwork

Findings No impact of race or gender diversity on sales, revenue, customer satisfaction Racial diversity positively impacts growth of business portfolios

No impact of race or gender diversity on sales, revenue, customer satisfaction

Racial diversity positively impacts growth of business portfolios

Findings At retail stores: No evidence that in diverse communities customers buy more from stores with diverse workforces No evidence that customers care that salespeople that serve them are of the same race and gender

At retail stores:

No evidence that in diverse communities customers buy more from stores with diverse workforces

No evidence that customers care that salespeople that serve them are of the same race and gender

Criticisms Defy logic Research teams were not diverse Makes no sense Irrelevant Not representative

Defy logic

Research teams were not diverse

Makes no sense

Irrelevant

Not representative

Expanding the Definition

Definition Race Gender ? ? ? ?

Race

Gender

?

?

?

?

Innovation Productivity Customer Satisfaction Teamwork Skills Race Gender

The Value of Diversity Trust Attracting Talent Cohesiveness Effectiveness Understanding

Trust

Diversity + Assimilation Cohesiveness

Diversity

+

Assimilation

Cohesiveness

Assimilation Shared Values Shared Identity Shared Purpose

Shared Values

Shared Identity

Shared Purpose

Making a Business Case

Goals Cohesiveness Understanding Recruitment Retention Innovation? Sales? Revenue?

Cohesiveness

Understanding

Recruitment

Retention

Innovation?

Sales?

Revenue?

Process Define the problem Identify Core Values Define metrics

Define the problem

Identify Core Values

Define metrics

Case Study - Ford Taurus, 1986 The Problem Powerful competitors Poor design Poor reliability

The Problem

Powerful competitors

Poor design

Poor reliability

Case Study - Ford Taurus, 1986 The Problem Solvers Management Laborers Designers Car lovers Ford lovers Ford haters Soccer moms

The Problem Solvers

Management

Laborers

Designers

Car lovers

Ford lovers

Ford haters

Soccer moms

Case Study - Ford Taurus, 1986 Motor Trend Car of the Year

The Economic Value of Diversity Reducing attrition Attracting talent Increasing competition among suppliers Winning government contracts The Economic Value of Diversity White Paper - Katzenbach Partners, 2007

Reducing attrition

Attracting talent

Increasing competition among suppliers

Winning government contracts

Integrating Diversity with Recruitment

The Process The desired outcome Problem definition Select the team Unity of purpose Values Assimilation

The desired outcome

Problem definition

Select the team

Unity of purpose

Values

Assimilation

Unity of Purpose

Key Principles All human behavior is goal-directed People want to make decisions that affect their jobs Human behavior occurs in a social context People are influenced by their environments

All human behavior is goal-directed

People want to make decisions that affect their jobs

Human behavior occurs in a social context

People are influenced by their environments

Putting it Together All human behavior is goal-directed GOALS

All human behavior is goal-directed

Putting it Together People want to make decisions that affect their jobs GOALS SKILLS

People want to make decisions that affect their jobs

Putting it Together Human behavior occurs in a social context GOALS PURPOSE SKILLS

Human behavior occurs in a social context

Putting it Together People are influenced by their environments. GOALS WORK ENVIRONMENT PURPOSE SKILLS

People are influenced by their environments.

Putting it Together GOALS WORK ENVIRONMENT VALUE PURPOSE SKILLS