A focus of one of our current projects at nGenera is looking at Diversity and Inclusion in the workforce. In our globalized world, where Web 2.0 forces have diminished the limitations of previous boundaries, such as language and geography, I am very interested to see how “Diversity” itself has changed.

What is “Diversity” and to what extent is it influenced by nature vs. nurture? Have constructs such as race and ethnicity become so commonplace in our globalized world that they are diminishing as constructs of “Diversity”? Are they being replaced by constructs such as “age” and generational divides?

What is your opinion?

One of the (if not the first) steps toward harnessing the power of Diversity within the workplace is to identify pre-existing biases. It is also important to recognize the difference between giving lip service to Diversity and recognizing it’s potential to not only enrich the working environment, but also to improve business results; thus it is necessary for organizations to develop their own business case for Diversity.

One tool that has been highlighted in our research has been Project Implicit, which is a collaborative research effort between leading researchers at Harvard University, the University of Washington, and the University of Virginia. In their own words, Project Implicit is a Virtual Laboratory for the social and behavioral sciences designed to facilitate the research of implicit social cognition: cognitions, feelings, and evaluations that are not necessarily available to conscious awareness, conscious control, conscious intention, or self-reflection.

I encourage you to visit Project Implicit’s site to participate in one of their IATs to view some of your own personal biases – beware: some of the findings may be surprising. Current tests include: Disability (‘Disabled – Abled’ IAT), Sexuality (‘Gay – Straight’ IAT) and even a 2008 Presidential Primaries Candidates IAT.

Some findings from the Age IAT show a strong automatic preference for Young compared to Old people:

What’s your take on the developing definition of “Diversity”?