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Diversity as Polyphony: Reconceptualizing Diversity Management from a Communication-Centered Perspective

Author

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  • Hannah Trittin

    (University of Zurich)

  • Dennis Schoeneborn

    (Copenhagen Business School)

Abstract

In this paper, we propose reconceptualizing diversity management from a communication-centered perspective. We base our proposal on the observation that the literature on diversity management, both in the instrumental and critical traditions, is primarily concerned with fostering the diversity of organizational members in terms of individual-bound criteria (e.g., gender, age, or ethnicity). By drawing on Bakhtin’s notion of polyphony as well as the ‘communicative constitution of organizations’ (CCO) perspective, we suggest reconsidering diversity as the plurality of ‘voices’ which can be understood as the range of individual opinions and societal discourses that get expressed and can find resonance in organizational settings. We contribute to the literature on diversity management by moving away from a focus on individual-bound and inalterable criteria of diversity and toward a reconceptualization of diversity management as dynamic processes of voice articulation and mediation.

Suggested Citation

  • Hannah Trittin & Dennis Schoeneborn, 2017. "Diversity as Polyphony: Reconceptualizing Diversity Management from a Communication-Centered Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(2), pages 305-322, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:144:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2825-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2825-8
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    5. Buhmann, Alexander & Maltseva, Kateryna & Fieseler, Christian & Fleck, Matthes, 2021. "Muzzling social media: The adverse effects of moderating stakeholder conversations online," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    6. Wenzel, Matthias & Will, Matthias Georg, 2019. "The communicative constitution of academic fields in the digital age: The case of CSR," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 517-533.
    7. Wolfgruber, Daniel & Einwiller, Sabine & Brockhaus, J., 2021. "Let's talk about diversity & inclusion: Fostering an inclusive work environment through communication," Communication Insights 11, Academic Society for Management & Communication – An initiative of the Günter Thiele Foundation, Leipzig.
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