Towards Inclusive Organizations

Diversity arising from the mixing of peoples from different cultural backgrounds has long been an issue in nations such as the United States and Australia, and in recent decades, European nations have reached unprecedented levels of cultural diversity due to increased migration. This phenomenon of increasing cultural diversity at the national level sets the context for current social science research on the consequences of diversity for social integration, institutional functioning, and interpersonal relationships. This book reviews theory and research in social and organizational psychology on the management of diversity in work organizations. The book shows how diversity management takes place across multiple levels: at a national level, at an organizational level, between work groups and teams, in interpersonal relations, and at the level of individual experiences. Each chapter summarizes relevant empirical research, and considers how the dynamics of workgroup relations are likely to be affected by cultural differences among group members.The contributors also describe the variables which organizational leadership should be sensitive to in designing and implementing policies and practices for inclusive organizations. Towards Inclusive Organizations will be essential reading for researchers and advanced students in social and organizational psychology.

Sabine Otten is Professor at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Her research focuses upon social identity, group identification, intergroup biases, social integration, and (cultural) diversity. Karen van der Zee is Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands, where she holds a chair in Intercultural Competence. She is also Professor of Organizational Psychology, Cultural Diversity, and Integration at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Her research focuses upon diversity management in organizations, integration issues in culturally diverse societies, and the measurement and development of intercultural competencies. Marilynn B. Brewer was previously Professor at Ohio State University, USA before moving to the University of New South Wales, Australia in 2009. Her primary areas of research are the study of social identity, collective decision making, and intergroup relations and she is the author of numerous research articles and books in these areas.

'One of today's most pressing questions is how to manage diversity effectively to the benefit of diverse individuals, small groups, larger organizations, and society as a whole. To help answer this question, Otten, van der Zee, and Brewer have brought together a fine (and diverse) group of social and organizational psychologists who review state-of-the-art literature and identify promising theoretical arguments and empirical foundations. This stellar collection of chapters will inspire researchers and practitioners alike and is a must-read for everyone interested in diversity!' - Rolf van Dick, Department of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany