Managing Diversity in Organizations: Is there a Link between Diversity Theories and Organizational Practices?

Abstract

Diversity management is a nowadays a trendy topic in organization studies. Considerable research is done on the antecedents and causes of organizational diversity. However, the amount of research done on diversity is not expected to trigger a fashion in managerial practices (Abrahamson, 1996). It is rather other socio-psychological factors (e.g., demographic changes, globalization) that do that. Although theoretical developments do not drive managerial practices, there is strong evidence in the literature that the two are closely related. The present paper explores the connection between different approaches used in diversity management and the theoretical developments in the field of organizational diversity. It uses print-media indicators to establish if the theoretical developments in diversity research co-evolve with the trends in diversity management. The results show a close co-evolution of discrimination and fairness as well as value in diversity paradigms with the research on diversity in organizations.