Consulting on an EDI Initiative (Class Activity Session 3)

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York University *

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2400

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Management

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by nargissultan38

Session 3 Class Activity Consulting on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative Complete this handout and submit on eClass by the end of day for class activity marks. Please leave in this format and submit in either DOC or PDF. BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Your team has been hired to consult with the Hypothetical Company and immediately see the organization needs to prioritize strategic goals for improving equity, diversity, and inclusion. Important EDI Concepts Explained Diversity : the degree of representation within a community or population that includes identity, background, lived experience, culture, values, worldviews, etc.  E.g., How to increase the variation (or address a lack of) in people in the workforce to better represent a cross-section of race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical and intellectual abilities, age, social class, religion, etc.? Equity : the promotion of fair treatment, access, and opportunity for each person that considers the historical, social, systemic, and structural issues that impact individual experience and needs.  E.g., What kind of organizational policies and practices that can enable all people to meaningfully contribute and advance? How can these organizational actions remove barriers to level the playing field? Inclusion : cultivating an environment where everyone is embraced just as they are; where differences are valued, each person is treated with respect and are given support to be able to fully and equally participate.  E.g., How to foster/increase a shared sense of belonging in how people experience the workplace? * Note : Terms and examples were compiled using York and University of Toronto resources. Use what you have learned in the class as well as your research skills (e.g., look online, find articles, etc.) to devise the best strategy as a group. Follow the steps below to help solve a contemporary organizational problem related to EDI and remember to think critically about the decisions you make at each step in order to successfully meet the objectives and come up with compelling reasons that will help you to get the organization on board . YOUR TASK 1. Identify the Problem . What is the specific problem related to either diversity, equity, or inclusion (select one from the above boxes) that you want to tackle in this Hypothetical Company? Explain why this is an important problem you need to solve.  The problem that we want to tackle in relation to equity is the accommodation needs of individuals with physical disabilities in the workplace, whether that be physical or mental. This is an important problem that needs to be solved because it creates a welcoming environment for everyone and allows disabled people to feel comfortable at work rather than feeling less than others.

2. Recommend a Solution . Deliver one (1) actionable recommendation with a concrete strategy that can help the organization address the problem you identified above. Make sure this is a well thought out plan and be specific about how it would actually be implemented (i.e., what would it look like in practice).  One actionable recommendation is to implement tools that can be accessible for those who need them. This can vary based on the needs of the employees but to accurately assess their needs, a questionnaire can be sent out to gain more knowledge on the different preferences and accommodations required. Based on that, employers and management teams can create personalized accommodations. 3. Justify Your Approach . Explain why this recommendation will directly solve the problem you identified and help meet broader goals—you have to “sell” this initiative. Also comment on what sources of evidence you used to support this conclusion.  This recommendation will directly solve the problem because it allows the employer to understand the different needs of the employees and prevents a “one size fits all” approach. It will also allow employees to feel valuable which can create a productive and engaged environment. In addition, employers can gain their employees trust and loyalty which creates a stable and strong relationship. 4. Implementation . The company has agreed to also keep you on to enact its strategic goals and your recommendation! But you will have to consider the potential limitations that are inherent to this strategy. Perhaps these are pragmatic concerns about what it will take to implement the initiative, where it may fall short on meeting the goal(s), and/or any unintended consequences you foresee arising as a result. Acknowledge the potential pitfalls of the recommended strategy so that it can ultimately be put into practice more effectively. The ideal answer here would also suggest how to minimize said limitations!  Some limitations that may arise with attempting to accommodate employees is that it can be costly, and it may be complicated if there are too many variations of accommodations. To minimize the limitations, employers can find different solutions such as more flexibility for those in need and the possibility of remote/hybrid work.

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