Read Sections 1 (Introduction) and 2 (Theoretical background) of the following article to gain insight into the complex concept of workplace diversity.
Check the Trident Online Library for the Korkmaz, van Engen, Knappert, and Schalk article listed in the background information. The article is about inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace. Companies have jumped on the bandwagon for inclusiveness and diversity, hoping that if they “have it” they will have a sustained competitive advantage over those companies not yet on board. The problem is that not everyone knows exactly what inclusiveness or diversity are. Some people think it is nothing more than making sure the same numbers of people represent each ethnicity in the workplace; however, inclusion and diversity are much more than skin color or ancestral background, even more than uniqueness and belonging, but that is a start.
Korkmaz, A. V., van Engen, M. L., Knappert, L., & Schalk, R. (2022, December). About and beyond leading uniqueness and belongingness: A systematic review of inclusive leadership research. Human Resource Management Review, 32(4), 1-20. ISSN 1053-4822, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100894. Available in the Trident Online Library.
The following is an optional reading that is about inclusive leaders.
Tapia, A. T., & Polonskaia, A. (2020). Chapter 6: Barilla—preserving tradition while changing it. In The 5 disciplines of inclusive leaders: unleashing the power of all of us. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Available in the Trident Online Library,
Next, read pages 22-25 from the Holmes, Acker, and Boettcher (2021), article to learn about the differences between being a manager and a leader. Then, read the case from page 26 of the required reading:
Holmes, A. C., Acker, L. D., & Boettcher, M. L. (2021). Supervision, leadership, and management: distinct, yet complementary. New Directions for Student Services, 175, 19–30. DOI: 10.1002/ss.20393 Available in the Trident Online Library.
Case Assignment
IMPORTANT: Note that the questions at the end of the following case in the Holmes et al. (2021) reading are different than the ones at the end of this assignment description. Do not do the questions at the end of the case in the assigned reading itself. Answer the following questions:
Is Dr. Hurston a diverse and inclusionary manager or leader? Based on her traits, is she effective in her position?
Is Dr. Westover a diverse and inclusionary manager or leader? Do his behaviors indicate that he is task-oriented or people-oriented?.
Is Ben Davis a diverse and inclusionary leader or manager? Is he task-oriented or people-oriented?
What is the leadership style of Dr. Hurston and Dr. Westover? (autocratic, participative, and laissez-faire)
If you were Ben, would you include a discussion of hiring a diverse workforce or focus more on hiring based on merit? Why?
