PUBM 5200 - Managing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace

3 credit hours
Diversity is a fact. With globalization and changing demographics, diversification will continue to be a reality of the workforce. Therefore, not surprisingly, diversity management is a leading trend in strategic recruitment across the globe. Diversity is also paradoxical. To benefit from diversity, we need to be able to see and hear differences. But, seeing and hearing differences also hone our discriminating reflexes and can potentially lead to discrimination. Given the reality of diversity and its paradoxical nature, developing a holistic understanding and promoting it is integrally linked to better public service. This course is structured into three parts: Part I: Understanding Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Socio-Psychological, Structural, and Legal Perspectives. Part II: Understanding Dimensions and Multidimensionality of Identity: The Power of Privilege, and Oppression. Part III: Managing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace: Building Individual and Organizational Competence. Overall, this course is designed to familiarize you and offer foundational understanding of key topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in workplace, underlying concepts, theories, voices, and insights for practice from diverse perspectives. In this course we approach the understanding, critical examination, and intentional promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion at individual and institutional levels. The readings and discussions we have in our class meetings are intended to offer students with insights and theoretical frameworks to critically examine our own and other’s identities. The purpose is stimulate students to dive deeper into individual level conscious and unconscious decisions, behaviors, and impact of human actions on matters of diversity, (in) equity, and inclusion (and exclusion) in the context of contemporary workplaces. At institutional levels, we will engage in critical examination of the legal, structural, and cultural systems of power and oppression that privilege dominant groups and disadvantage marginalized groups at societal and organizational levels. Finally, we will collectively reflect and examine action-oriented anti-discrimination and anti-oppression frameworks to promote allyship for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Pedagogically, this course will use an inclusive and active-learning approach, designed to help students learn about diversity, equity, and inclusion, both cognitively and experientially. The course assignments are designed to help students develop an understanding of course topics through reflection, critically analysis, and practical applications in organizational contexts. Required.

Registration Restriction(s): Majors only
Terms Typically Offered: Spring