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Article | Harvard Business Review | September–October 1996

Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity

by D. A. Thomas and Robin Ely

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Keywords: Management; Diversity;

Format: Print 12 pages Find at Harvard

Citation:

Thomas, D. A., and Robin Ely. "Making Differences Matter: A New Paradigm for Managing Diversity." Harvard Business Review 74, no. 5 (September–October 1996): 79–90.

About the Authors

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David A. Thomas
Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus

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Robin J. Ely
Diane Doerge Wilson Professor of Business Administration
Organizational Behavior

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More from these Authors

  • Book | 2019

    Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience

    Laura Morgan Roberts, Anthony J. Mayo and David A. Thomas

    Race, Work, and Leadership is a rare and important compilation of essays that examines how race matters in people’s experience of work and leadership. What does it mean to be black in corporate America today? How are racial dynamics in organizations changing? How do we build inclusive organizations? Inspired by and developed in conjunction with the research and programming for Harvard Business School’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the HBS African American Student Union, this groundbreaking book shines new light on these and other timely questions and illuminates the present-day dynamics of race in the workplace. Contributions from top scholars, researchers, and practitioners in leadership, organizational behavior, psychology, sociology, and education test the relevance of long-held assumptions and reconsider the research approaches and interventions needed to understand and advance African Americans in work settings and leadership roles. At a time when there are fewer African American men and women in corporate leadership roles, Race, Work, and Leadership will stimulate new scholarship and dialogue on the organizational and leadership challenges of African Americans and become the indispensable reference for anyone committed to understanding, studying, and acting on the challenges facing leaders who are building inclusive organizations.

    Keywords: race and ethnicity; Diversity Management; inclusion; leader selection; Race; Ethnicity; Diversity; Leadership; Leadership Development; Employment;

    Citation:

    Roberts, Laura Morgan, Anthony J. Mayo, and David A. Thomas, eds. Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press, 2019.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsFind at HarvardPurchase Related
  • Article | Journal of Social Issues | September 2018

    Thoughts on the Workplace as a Masculinity Contest

    R. Ely and Michael Kimmel

    Citation:

    Ely, R., and Michael Kimmel. "Thoughts on the Workplace as a Masculinity Contest." Journal of Social Issues 74, no. 3 (September 2018): 628–634.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsFind at Harvard Related
  • Article | Harvard Business Review | May–June 2018

    What Most People Get Wrong about Men and Women: Research Shows the Sexes Aren't So Different

    Catherine H. Tinsley and Robin J. Ely

    Why have women failed to achieve parity with men in the workplace? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not because women prioritize their families over their careers, negotiate poorly, lack confidence, or are too risk averse. Meta-analyses of published studies show that those ideas are myths—men and women actually have similar inclinations, attitudes, and skills. What does differ is the way they are treated on the job: Women have less access to vital information, get less feedback from supervisors, and face other obstacles to advancement. To ensure gender equity, the authors recommend that managers (1) question the stereotypes behind their practices, (2) consider other factors that might explain the achievement gap, (3) change workplace conditions accordingly, and (4) keep challenging assumptions and sharing learning to create a culture in which all employees can reach their full potential.

    Keywords: Working Conditions; Gender; Equality and Inequality; Organizational Culture; Change Management;

    Citation:

    Tinsley, Catherine H., and Robin J. Ely. "What Most People Get Wrong about Men and Women: Research Shows the Sexes Aren't So Different." Harvard Business Review 96, no. 3 (May–June 2018): 114–121.  View Details
    CiteView DetailsFind at Harvard Register to Read Related
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