Implementing the equality, diversity, and inclusion agenda in multinational companies: A framework for the management of (linguistic) diversity

Ciuk, Sylwia; Śliwa, Martyna; Harzing, Anne-Wil

Abstract

Advancing, both conceptually and practically, the equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) agenda, which is notoriously difficult to implement, this paper addresses the under-researched area of global diversity management (GDM) in multinational companies (MNCs). Drawing on Harrison and Klein’s (2007) conceptualisations of diversity (separation, variety, and disparity) and two core concepts (fluidity and reciprocity) that reflect recent developments in the EDI literature, we propose a two-step framework for implementing the EDI agenda through GDM. We argue that to achieve inclusion, we first need to think differently about diversity and differ-ences (i.e. view diversity in a positive light and recognise and appreciate diffe¬rences as fluid), in order to act differently (i.e. promote reciprocal effort to leverage diversity). We illustrate our framework with the specific case of linguistic diversity, a diversity dimension that is par-ticularly salient, but also often neglected in MNCs, and discuss the implications of the pro-posed framework for EDI theory as well as HRM policies and practice.

Citation

Ciuk, S., Śliwa, M., & Harzing, A.-W. (2023). Implementing the equality, diversity, and inclusion agenda in multinational companies: A framework for the management of (linguistic) diversity. Human Resource Management Journal, 33(4), 868-888. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12487

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 23, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Dec 16, 2022
• Publication Date: 2023-11
• Deposit Date: Oct 24, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 21, 2022
• Journal: Human Resource Management Journal
• Print ISSN: 0954-5395
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-8583
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 868-888
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12487
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1188399
• Additional Information: Special Issue: Refugee recruitment and workplace integration: An opportunity for human resource management scholarship and impact