Managing diversity and multiculturality

This course teaches students the conceptual, analytical and practical skills necessary to be an effective manager in multicultural and diverse business environments.

The definition of diversity used in this course is not just limited to ‘national’ culture differences but it includes differences among individuals along any socio-demographic dimension (including nationality, ethnicity, language, age, gender, and socio-economic status) or other dimensions of social identity relevant to organizational contexts that are marked by a history of intergroup relations.

This course will thus explore the multiple factors within society, including at the organizational, group and individual levels that can help or hinder effecting organizational functioning. The course will then propose concrete skills to foster diversity and inclusion and effective diversity plans in organizations.
 

This course contributes to the Sustainable Business Operations pedagogical pathway of the Sustainable Development initiative that seek to provide an integrated training in sustainability.

1. To allow students understanding how differences among various individuals and groups affect management behaviors

2. To allow students identifying the opportunities and challenges that managers face in culturally diverse organizations

3. To allow students developing a set of skills to become inclusive leaders

4. To learn how to develop and implement efficient Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategies within organizations

The primary teaching method in this course is active learning. Relatively little class time will be devoted to standard lectures. Instead, the course involves discussion on the assigned papers and business cases, group presentations and group exercises.

Contribution au profil d'enseignement

LO 1.1. Integrate sustainable development in problem analysis

LO 1.2. Master and apply key economic and management concepts, frameworks and theories in a professional context to identify a business opportunity and build a relevant innovative solution to it

LO 1.3. Approach managerial or business problem through different disciplinary frameworks (law, communication, psychology, etc.) and taking external factors into consideration

LO 2.2. Display critical thinking and develop a life-long learning approach

LO 3.1. Apply quantitative and qualitative techniques to support analysis using data with standard office and statistical software

LO 4.1. Work and communicate effectively as part of a team in an international and multicultural environment

LO 4.2. Demonstrate work ethics to foster corporate socially responsible conduct in workplace

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

BOOKS

• Mensi-Klarbach, H., & Risberg, A. (2019). Diversity in organizations (2nd edition). Reprinted by Bloomsbury Academic 2022.

• Konrad, A.M. Prasad, P., & Jean-Louis Pringle, J.K. (2008) Handbook of Workplace Diversity. Sage Publications.

• Tariq Modood (2013). Multiculturalism. Polity.

PAPERS

• Sherbin, L., & Rashid, R. (2017). Diversity doesn’t stick without inclusion. Harvard Business Review, February 2017

• Chao, M., Okazaki, S., & Hong, Y (2011). The quest for multicultural competence: Challenges and lessons learned from clinical and organizational research. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5, 263-274.

• Lovich (2022). Reinventing DEI To Acknowledge the Diversity of Everyone. Forbes, November 2022.

• Zheng, L (2020). Do your employees feel safe reporting abuse and discrimination? Harvard Business Review, October 2020.

• Dobbin, F. & Kalev, A. (2016). Why diversity programs fail. And what works better? Harvard Business Review, July-August 2016.

• Salwa, R.D. (2021). How inclusive is your leadership? Harvard Business Review, April 2021.

• Wiggings, R. & Githens, R. (2018). The psychology of diversity resistance and integration. Human Resource Development Review, 17, 179–198.

• Shuman, Knowles & Goldenberg (2023). To Overcome Resistance to DEI, Understand What’s Driving It. Harvard Business Review, March 2023.

CASES

• Transitions Asia: Managing Across Cultures

• Sonia Millar: Negotiating for the C-suite

• Global Diversity and Inclusion at Royal Dutch Shell

Support(s) de cours

• Université virtuelle
• Syllabus

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Examen écrit
• Travail de groupe
• Autre

Examen écrit

Travail de groupe

Autre

Written exam and group project.

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais