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Prominent Themes and Blind Spots in Diversity and Inclusion Literature: A Bibliometric Analysis

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  • H. M. Bommel

    (Open Universiteit)

  • F. Hubers

    (Open Universiteit)

  • K. E. H. Maas

    (Open Universiteit)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the development of diversity and inclusion (D&I) literature and identify its prominent themes and blind spots. The research was conducted using bibliometric analysis on the Web of Science database and included 2510 publications. Results showed that the development of D&I literature had increased exponentially since the 1960s, mainly due to different political and societal events. The geographic development showed that research was primarily conducted in developed countries where quotas and other legislation are implemented. The thematic development revealed a stable but narrow focus on diversity management, board diversity, and team diversity, with little attention to inclusion. The keyword analysis strongly emphasized surface-level diversity, such as gender, race, and cultural diversity, while deep-level diversity received less attention. This study concludes that previous D&I literature has mainly focused on the financial effects of D&I and neglected other elements, such as the effects on social performance, its ethical implications, and the relationship between diversity and inclusion. The study recommends future research to expand the interpretation of diversity, examine the relationship between diversity and inclusion, and explore the effects of diversity on non-financial outcomes such as social performance and ethics. This study provides a valuable contribution to the field of business ethics by highlighting the blind spots in D&I literature and encouraging future research to consider the ethical implications of diversity in the workplace.

Suggested Citation

  • H. M. Bommel & F. Hubers & K. E. H. Maas, 2024. "Prominent Themes and Blind Spots in Diversity and Inclusion Literature: A Bibliometric Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 192(3), pages 487-499, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:192:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-023-05522-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-023-05522-w
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