Inclusion Efforts Research Articles

AI-Powered customer experience optimization: Enhancing financial inclusion in underserved communities

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into customer experience optimization holds transformative potential for advancing financial inclusion in underserved communities. This review explores how AI-driven tools can enhance personalized banking services, streamline customer engagement, and improve access to financial products for individuals who are often marginalized by traditional banking systems. By leveraging AI algorithms, financial institutions can analyze vast amounts of customer data to identify unique needs, preferences, and behaviors, enabling the delivery of tailored financial solutions. These AI-powered systems can also automate routine tasks, such as account management and customer support, ensuring that banking services are more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective. A key benefit of AI in this context is its ability to overcome barriers such as geographic isolation and lack of financial literacy, which often hinder financial inclusion. AI-driven chatbots, for instance, can provide 24/7 support in local languages, guiding users through complex financial processes. Moreover, AI enables the creation of personalized financial literacy programs, tailored to the specific needs of underserved populations, fostering a deeper understanding of financial products and encouraging greater participation in the financial system. Additionally, AI-powered fraud detection systems enhance trust and security in financial transactions, a critical factor in encouraging participation from communities traditionally skeptical of formal banking systems. The use of predictive analytics further supports the development of micro-loans and credit products suited to the financial realities of low-income individuals, reducing default rates and improving access to capital. In conclusion, AI-powered customer experience optimization offers a powerful strategy for financial institutions seeking to expand their reach into underserved communities. By providing personalized, efficient, and secure banking experiences, AI can significantly contribute to financial inclusion efforts, driving economic empowerment and reducing inequalities. This study highlights the critical role of AI in reshaping financial services and creating inclusive opportunities for underserved populations. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Financial Inclusion, Customer Experience Optimization, Underserved Communities, Personalized Banking, AI-Powered Tools, Financial Literacy, Fraud Detection, Predictive Analytics, Economic Empowerment.

A national survey of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in general surgery residency programs

A national survey of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in general surgery residency programs

Strategically communicating inclusion efforts at hospitals: Trust-signalling for community engagement.

Trust is a challenging and complex concept and takes on particular significance in the context of community engagement and communication in healthcare. For the purpose of making health services more inclusive and of tackling discrimination where it occurs, there is a need to articulate a vision for inclusion that communities of historically disadvantaged or stigmatised patients can trust. This article considers examples of diversity and inclusion 'signals' on the public websites of two large public hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. We suggest that there is value in public communications reaffirming respect for diversity and a commitment to inclusion in health services. We also make the case for interdisciplinary research into how trust-signalling strategies, that is, rhetorical strategies employed to reassure or convince, are developed by and for health services for the purposes of community engagement, and the specific effects that they may engender. Websites' framing of messages that affirm institutional commitments to fostering an inclusive environment and addressing barriers can serve as a means of explicitly encouraging patients and healthcare workers from marginalised communities to overcome potential obstacles to fuller healthcare engagement and workforce participation respectively.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts in Graduate Medical Education: Identifying Opportunities for Collaborative Learning.

Background Physician-patient racial and cultural concordance is essential to address health care disparities. Yet, limited literature on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) outcomes in graduate medical education (GME) suggests the need for high-yield DEI resources. Objectives To describe and identify DEI efforts by US residency program director (PD) associations and areas for collaboration among the GME community. Methods Through bimonthly teleconferences and 5 iterative revisions from June to September 2022, the DEI workgroup of the US Organization of PD Associations developed a 17-question needs assessment survey to investigate DEI activities across residency PD associations, which was delivered twice electronically from September to November 2022 to 30 specialty PD association representatives. Results Survey response rate was 73% (22 of 30). Specialties track resident demographics more than PD demographics (11 of 22, 50% vs 7 of 22, 32%). Tracked demographics vary and include race, gender, and sexual orientation. Most PD associations have DEI committees (16 of 22, 73%) implementing various initiatives, the most common of which was providing resources to ensure diverse representation (11 of 16, 69%). Most specialties provide residency recruitment resources (14 of 22, 64%) and funding for visiting rotations or mentorship for underrepresented trainees (12 of 22, 54%). Resources for pipeline programs (7 of 22, 32%) and retention of diverse residents (7 of 22, 32%) were less common. Faculty development training focused more on teaching DEI to residents (14 of 22, 64%) than on teaching health disparities (7 of 22, 32%). Conclusions Our study demonstrates substantial DEI interventions among specialty PD associations. Yet, educational gaps exist in specific DEI content, faculty development, and curricular dissemination.

Innovative Financial Products And Services For Underserved Communities

This paper provides an in-depth exploration of innovative financial products designed to meet the unique needs of underserved populations in the United States. It systematically examines how Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) are important in the delivery of these specialized financial services. By focusing on microloans, credit-building loans, and affordable housing financing, the paper elucidates the transformative potential of these financial products in enhancing financial inclusion and increasing economic empowerment within marginalized communities. The analysis shows how microloans facilitate entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation while credit-building loans serve as a tool for establishing and improving credit histories. It addresses innovative financing models for affordable housing by illustrating their impact on community stability and development. The role of CDFIs and MDIs is examined to reveal their unique contributions and challenges in providing accessible financial services to underserved groups. The paper explores implementation strategies and policy recommendations, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that leverages technology, ensures strong partnerships with government and nonprofit entities, and addresses regulatory barriers. It entails the importance of measuring the impact of financial inclusion initiatives to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability. The paper calls for concerted action from policymakers, financial institutions, and community organizations to collaborate in advancing financial inclusion efforts. By harnessing the insights and strategies outlined, stakeholders can enhance the reach and effectiveness of financial products, ultimately driving economic growth and opportunity for all

Conceptualizing mobile banking and payment systems: Adoption trends and security considerations in Africa and the U.S

This paper explores the dynamic landscape of mobile banking and payment systems, focusing on the comparative analysis of adoption trends and security considerations in Africa and the U.S. A detailed review of literature and theoretical frameworks highlights the distinct pathways through which mobile financial services have evolved within these regions. The analysis reveals that while Africa's mobile banking growth is largely driven by financial inclusion efforts targeting the unbanked population, the U.S. market expands through technological innovations catering to a tech-savvy consumer base. Security challenges, ranging from fraud to cyberattacks, are examined, with region-specific vulnerabilities and countermeasures discussed. Recommendations for enhancing system security and adoption are provided, underscoring the role of regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, and consumer education. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research directions, emphasizing the need for ongoing innovation and policy development in the mobile banking ecosystem.

Barriers to Meaningful Connectivity

Community networks risk failure when they attempt to emulate models from elsewhere without engaging the community in the process and making appropriate adaptations. These ‘build it and they will come’ models rarely work over the long term. This research project explored claims from residents of a low-income neighbourhood in the “North End” of Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada, that inadequate and unaffordable Internet connectivity limits their access to critical communication tools, resources, and information. Through the research, we identified the need for a sustainable model of affordable, accessible Internet connectivity that centers on building a cooperative-owned and operated community network with Indigenous and newcomer families at its heart. Findings revealed that high connectivity costs, limited digital literacy, and inadequate infrastructure are the primary barriers to meaningful connectivity in the community. The intent of the “North End Connect” research project was to work directly with the residents, to learn about their connectivity needs and wants, inform the project’s technical team as to how and where to build a solution that works for the community, removing explicit and implicit barriers to access. Through our research, we validated that digital connectivity is a problem in the community. Utilizing a CBPAR approach provided a more nuanced understanding of the barriers to access from the resident’s perspective and lived experience. This allowed for the development of a strengths-based roadmap that utilized existing assets to provide affordable, accessible, trustworthy, and secure Internet access to anyone who wants it. The research acted as the catalyst to motivate the community and led to ongoing interventions aimed at addressing each of the identified barriers. As we investigate these barriers, it becomes evident that addressing these issues is not just a matter of technological access but a crucial step toward fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. The project serves as a model for community-driven digital inclusion efforts and contributes to global conversations about equitable access to the internet.

Bureaucracies’ Extended Arm in Co-creation: A Study of Institutional Complexity in the Context of Public Services

Co-creation, as a central strategy of the New Public Governance (NPG) paradigm, is deemed essential to address complex societal challenges. A qualitative, in-depth study was conducted to explore collaborative processes between the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) and three external organizations. The aim of co-creation among these actors was to limit/prevent outsiderness by providing more individualized work inclusion services to young adults facing vulnerabilities. Our study examines collaborative processes between NAV and external actors in work inclusion efforts and explores how institutional complexity within NAV influences the potential for co-creation among these actors. We found that the bureaucratic logic of the Traditional Public Administration (TPA) within NAV forces external actors to engage in challenging, time-consuming procedures, turning them into bureaucracies’ extended arms rather than independent contributors of resources. Additionally, core principles of New Public Management (NPM), such as resource control and optimization, overshadow the importance of shared responsibility, equality, and knowledge sharing (NPG). With NAV as an example, the article demonstrates the importance of effectively managing institutional complexity in public organizations to succeed in co-creation. It contributes empirical and contextual examples of co-creation processes in the public sector, as the co-creation literature is still very theoretical, descriptive, and conceptual.

Evaluation of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana Performance Across the Indian States

Financial inclusion stands as a pivotal strategy in India, reflecting a commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth within our economic framework. The primary objective of financial inclusion is to ensure that all segments of the population have access to financial services. The Government of India (GOI) has implemented several significant measures aimed at "funding the unfunded" micro-enterprise sector. A key initiative in this regard is the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), which is instrumental in advancing financial inclusion efforts. This scheme is designed to meet the credit needs of small businesses, offering loans of up to 10 lakhs. This research paper provides an overview of PMMY along with a performance analysis of the scheme across different regions. Promoting financial inclusion via the PMMY scheme is crucial for driving economic transformation within society. MUDRA, which stands for the Micro Unit Development and Refinance Agency, represents a significant reform initiative by the Government of India aimed at enhancing the financial stability of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This financial initiative, embodied in the MUDRA scheme, is designed to support micro units by providing them with access to credit and funding necessary for the growth of their small businesses.

Exploring the Landscape of Diversity Climate Research as a Means of Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongingness for Academic and Organizational Progress

Diversity climate, due to its impending impact on inclusion efforts, has been researched to understand its varied dimensions. Both from an academic standpoint, as well as an organizational perspective, researchers must coalesce to understand diversity in the Indian context, considering the social and economic angles that present themselves both as a challenge and an opportunity. The present research attempts to collate various investigative endeavors where key variables such as task conflict, relationship conflict, organizational commitment, innovation culture, psychological empowerment, identity freedom, diversity perception, demographic insights, leadership, fairness and discrimination, cultural intelligence, team performance, workplace attachment, employee performance, business unit financial performance, affective organizational commitment, job satisfaction, role ambiguity, and linguistic parameters, with the common dependent variable being diversity climate. The present research attempts to demonstrate various aspects related to diversity climate that can be advanced further within the Indian context for customized results.

Hospital Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts: Perspectives of Patient and Family Advisors.

Patient and family advisory councils are common within children's hospitals. However, lack of diversity among patient and family advisors (PFAs) may result in exclusion of crucial perspectives and perpetuate inequities. We sought to understand PFA perspectives on how children's hospitals should approach: (1) recruitment and support of PFAs from groups at greater risk of health inequities; and (2) development of meaningful partnerships with PFAs or patient and family advisory councils on institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. We conducted a qualitative study of PFAs of children's hospitals from communities at greater risk for health inequities based on self-identified race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, language, or other factors. Focus groups were virtual and group discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive qualitative analysis. In total, 17 PFAs participated across 5 focus groups (4 in English, 1 in Spanish). We identified 6 themes: (1) PFA diversity is necessary to understand existing health inequities; (2) diversity needs to be considered broadly; (3) recruiting for diverse PFAs requires intentionality, visibility of PFACs within and outside of the hospital, and deliberate connections with families and communities; (4) efforts to increase PFAC diversity must be accompanied by work to develop inclusive environments; (5) diversity efforts require meaningful engagement and equity; and (6) diverse PFACs can enrich DEI efforts but require organizational commitment and follow-through. Insights from our qualitative study of PFAs can be used by healthcare systems to foster diversity and inclusion in PFACs and advance hospital DEI efforts.

Updated trends in disability, diversity, and corporate social responsibility

BACKGROUND: Disability holds a unique position in employment, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Furthermore, contextual shifts in employment, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, make it critical to explore how disability is considered within company strategies. OBJECTIVE: Authors reviewed 2020/2021 CSR reports to observe organizational disability inclusion practices and shifts in company approaches to workplace and community initiatives. This analysis helps illuminate what disability inclusion strategies businesses publicize and prioritize, contributing to the growing knowledge of disability inclusion. METHODS: Building from a previous analysis completed in 2018 (Gould et al., 2020), the current review involved content analysis of 129 CSR reports from companies recognized for their disability inclusion efforts. RESULTS: Results showed a substantial increase in organizations that participated in disability inclusion activities and illuminated potential contextual changes. Additional findings highlight primary disability inclusion strategies as well as emerging practices. CONCLUSION: Although there is an increasing interest in including disability within business efforts, there continues to be distinct challenges to advancing disability inclusion overall. By providing insights into disability inclusion approaches, the current study sets a foundation for future research to explore the efficacy and long-term impacts of inclusive practices to enhance disability employment outcomes.

Navigating the Challenges and Resilience in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adolescents with Chronic Diseases: A Scoping Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of adolescents worldwide, especially those living with chronic diseases. This study aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives of adolescents with chronic diseases. This is a scoping review that follows the guidelines proposed by JBI. Eligibility criteria include articles focusing on adolescents aged 10 to 19 during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of chronic diseases. Searches were performed in PUBMED, LILACS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, grey literature, and manual searches in March 2024. This review is composed of 35 articles. The analysis revealed two main categories: (1) Adolescents facing social isolation, school closure, and new family interactions, striving to reinvent themselves, and (2) Chasing the best decision: following up the chronic disease while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. These categories encompass subcategories highlighting changes in social and family interactions and lifestyle habits. The findings suggest a multifaceted interaction of factors influencing adolescents' well-being, including improved family bonding, heightened disease management, and increased stress and strains on resources. This review emphasizes the importance of long-term follow-up and social inclusion efforts for adolescents with chronic diseases and their families, addressing their unique needs during public health crises.

Challenging Normalized Gendered Racism in Departmental Efforts to Broaden Participation in Computer Science

In recent decades, initiatives to diversify post-secondary educational spaces have blossomed. Many of these “broadening participation” efforts are in STEM undergraduate departments that, historically and presently, predominantly serve white men. Using a raced-gendered theoretical lens, we conducted a narrative analysis of interviews with 55 faculty, staff, students, and administrators at four public universities, individuals who had all been identified as leaders of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in their universities’ computer science departments. Our findings across institutions illustrate how their efforts often contravened the stated goals of diversity initiatives, especially for Women of Color, and continued to reproduce white supremacy in computer science. This intersectional inquiry affirms prior scholars’ calls to name and confront how diversity initiatives and their leaders deflect to gender while being race-avoidant, a pattern that functions to further marginalize Women of Color in higher education.

Can everyone get interesting jobs? Estimating interest fit across gender, ethnicity, and education

AbstractAlthough research and policy efforts have attempted to “even the hiring playing field” and progress equal opportunities, systemic employment patterns based on gender and ethnicity remain prevalent. An unexplored avenue of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts is the degree to which all people can obtain jobs that fit their interests. The present study used a large, diverse sample of over 250,000 American employees to estimate the average vocational interest fit that people have with their jobs and differences in fit across race/ethnicity, gender, and education. Overall, employees showed moderate positive vocational interest fit with their jobs, with an average profile correlation of .20 between person and job interests. There were small gender differences in vocational interest fit favoring men, especially White and Hispanic men, with minimal differences across other race/ethnicity groups. However, the largest group differences emerged for education, as employees with higher educational attainment showed greater vocational interest fit, particularly among women. Further intersectional analyses added greater nuance to these results, including how various groups achieve vocational interest fit across different types of jobs. Altogether, this work provides important fit benchmark estimates for researchers, counselors, organizational placement, and theory refinement.

The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Leadership Mentoring Program: Ten years of positive outcomes

BackgroundNursing leadership programs can have a positive impact on organizations and communities. Health equity in nursing requires leaders who parallel the population demographics. PurposeThis work evaluated the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Leadership Mentoring Program (LMP) 10 years from its inception. Lessons learned from this evaluation can inform leadership initiatives in nursing and other health professions. MethodThis cross-sectional evaluation applied the Context, Inputs, Process, and Products model to gauge effectiveness of the LMP. All 48 participants were invited to participate. ResultsThirty-two survey respondents, a 67 % response rate, demonstrated a 767 % increase in extramural scholarship collaborations and promotion to associate and full professor at 43 % and 90 %, respectively. Academic leadership positions to department chair, assistant/associate dean, and dean increased 200 %, 167 %, and 100 %, respectively. Seventy-seven percent of program participants are engaged on boards and committees at local, state, national, and international levels. These roles significantly impact legislative, policy, advocacy, and regulatory efforts, signifying the LMP's influence on broader societal and professional domains. ConclusionIdentifying clear program outcomes and metrics for leadership program evaluation can advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Sustainable funding models for leadership development will have a high return on investment for health professions.

Social inclusion practices in the upstream supply chain: a systematic literature review

PurposeThis study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) on social inclusion within upstream supply chains, targeting a notable literature gap in modern SCM discourse. By delving into this critical, yet underexamined, domain, this study spotlights the pressing need to incorporate social inclusion practices, particularly as global supply chains face increased scrutiny over their social ramifications. It examines social inclusion’s intricacies, offering practical insights for industry professionals to adopt, so that trustworthy social inclusion practices can proliferate across their upstream supply chains, thereby making a substantial contribution to both theoretical understanding and practical application.Design/methodology/approachEmploying five search queries across two leading academic databases, this investigation reviewed 86 articles that examined social issues related to social inclusion in the upstream supply chain. Via content analysis, this study aims to answer essential research questions and employs statistical bibliometric analyses to investigate the collected data further.FindingsThis study’s findings establish a definition of social inclusion within the upstream supply chain and present a conceptual framework delineating levers and indicators for evaluating such practices. Through rigorous analysis, it becomes apparent that mechanisms such as supplier compliance, collaboration and development are crucial for promoting social inclusion; however, their importance differs at various levels of suppliers in multi-tiered supply chains. Furthermore, a methodological matrix is introduced for assessing social inclusion practices’ efficacy, equipping practitioners with a roadmap for developing and executing strategies that extend social inclusion efforts throughout the supply chain, as well as emphasising these levers through monitoring, assessment and application of six specified indicators.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the dialogue surrounding upstream supply chain management by spotlighting social inclusion practices, addressing the literature gap in comprehending how social inclusion dynamics operate within upstream supply chains and outlining a distinct direction for forthcoming research. By highlighting the pressing importance of enhancing social inclusion practices, this study not only enriches the theoretical landscape but also lays the groundwork for subsequent empirical studies aimed at deciphering the complexities and practical hurdles associated with the efficient execution of these practices.

‘We’ve Been Left Out’: women’s refuges in Northern Ireland, 1974–2008

Abstract With histories of late-twentieth-century Northern Ireland1 consumed with political violence, and studies of the contemporary women’s movements in Britain only recently shifting their focus beyond London, Northern Irish women’s refuges have been obscured from historical view. This article proposes that re-situating women’s refuges in the context of the Troubles can enrich our understanding of the refuge movements, and wider women’s activism, across the UK at the turn of the twenty-first century. Drawing from archived and original interviews as well as documentary sources, the article traces the development of the Northern Irish refuge movement over four key periods: early years (1974–83), cross-community organizing (1983–93), development (1993–8), and efforts for diversity and inclusion (1998–2008). Such a chronology challenges the perception of the 1980s as an era of division and decline for UK feminism, and highlights the value of moving away from overarching chronologies of women’s activism towards more localized timelines. Furthermore, re-contextualizing women’s refuges in the battleground of the Troubles offers new evidence of their efforts to reduce domestic abuse, bring together women from opposing communities, and rebuild a democratic society. These activities contributed to the ‘vernacular’ peace process taking place in Northern Ireland’s voluntary sector, and suggest that refuges across the UK were similarly engaged in a peace process addressing violence in the home.

A Protocol for the Inclusion of Minoritized Persons in Alzheimer Disease Research From the ADNI3 Diversity Taskforce

Black or African American (hereinafter, Black) and Hispanic or Latino/a/x (hereinafter, Latinx) adults are disproportionally affected by Alzheimer disease, but most research studies do not enroll adequate numbers of both of these populations. The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-3 (ADNI3) launched a diversity taskforce to pilot a multipronged effort to increase the study inclusion of Black and Latinx older adults. To describe and evaluate the culturally informed and community-engaged inclusion efforts to increase the screening and enrollment of Black and Latinx older adults in ADNI3. This cross-sectional study used baseline data from a longitudinal, multisite, observational study conducted from January 15, 2021, to July 12, 2022, with no follow-up. The study was conducted at 13 ADNI3 sites in the US. Participants included individuals aged 55 to 90 years without cognitive impairment and those with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer disease. Efforts included (1) launch of an external advisory board, (2) changes to the study protocol, (3) updates to the digital prescreener, (4) selection and deployment of 13 community-engaged research study sites, (5) development and deployment of local and centralized outreach efforts, and (6) development of a community-science partnership board. Screening and enrollment numbers from centralized and local outreach efforts, digital advertisement metrics, and digital prescreener completion. A total of 91 participants enrolled in the trial via centralized and local outreach efforts, of which 22 (24.2%) identified as Latinx and 55 (60.4%) identified as Black (median [IQR] age, 65.6 [IQR, 61.5-72.5] years; 62 women [68.1%]). This represented a 267.6% increase in the monthly rate of enrollment (before: 1.11 per month; during: 4.08 per month) of underrepresented populations. For the centralized effort, social media advertisements were run between June 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022, which resulted in 2079 completed digital prescreeners, of which 1289 met criteria for subsequent site-level screening. Local efforts were run between June 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022. A total of 151 participants underwent site-level screening (100 from local efforts, 41 from centralized efforts, 10 from other sources). In this cross-sectional study of pilot inclusion efforts, a culturally informed, community-engaged approach increased the inclusion of Black and Latinx participants in an Alzheimer disease cohort study.

Rethinking the "I" in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts Within Academic Medicine.

Rethinking the "I" in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts Within Academic Medicine.