Societal Inequality and Business Organizations: A Dialogue Among Scholars and Practitioners

Abstract

Panelists from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and academic and practitioner perspectives will address the growing attention to systemic inequality worldwide and the increasing demands that are being brought to bear on business organizations to mitigate such inequalities. Reflecting on recent inflection points that have made inequality more salient and visible, such as the murder of George Floyd that heightened concern about social and racial justice, panelists will discuss various ways academics and practitioners can work with business organizations to both strengthen the companies’ achievement of diversity, equity and inclusion goals and also help mitigate societal inequality. Panelist discussion will include the need to address issues of power and domination in the structure of intergroup relations that affect both every-day and long-term inequality in various contexts; strategies for business organizations to positively impact societal equality, for example by widening their base of stakeholders to include those representing the larger community and being more intentional about the organization’s influence on, and interaction with, the larger society; innovative research, grounded in moral psychology, that addresses resistance to anti-racist programs in business organizations; and the importance of bridging the gaps between organizational practices in the traditionally separate areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by influencing companies and firms to implement consistent standards related to equity both inside and outside the organization.