Runningaa_aa Head:aa_aa DIVERSITY
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Weekaa_aa 3aa_aa Fieldaa_aa Researchaa_aa Report
DIVERSITY
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1. "Doesaa_aa youraa_aa organizationaa_aa provideaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa training,aa_aa
and,aa_aa ifaa_aa so,aa_aa isaa_aa theaa_aa trainingaa_aa effectiveaa_aa ataa_aa complianceaa_aa andaa_aa deepeningaa_aa
understandingaa_aa andaa_aa commitmentaa_aa toaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusion?aa_aa "
• Trainingaa_aa onaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa isaa_aa consideredaa_aa toaa_aa beaa_aa aaa_aa vitalaa_aa
componentaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa learningaa_aa andaa_aa developmentaa_aa (L&D)aa_aa functionaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa
organization.aa_aa Employeesaa_aa acrossaa_aa allaa_aa levelsaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa companyaa_aa getaa_aa theaa_aa
opportunityaa_aa toaa_aa beaa_aa aaa_aa partaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa trainingaa_aa soaa_aa thataa_aa theyaa_aa
canaa_aa embraceaa_aa oneaa_aa anotheraa_aa regardlessaa_aa ofaa_aa theiraa_aa individualaa_aa differencesaa_aa andaa_aa
workaa_aa cohesivelyaa_aa toaa_aa achieveaa_aa theaa_aa organizationalaa_aa goalsaa_aa andaa_aa objectives.aa_aa Oneaa_aa ofaa_aa
theaa_aa fundamentalaa_aa objectivesaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa trainingaa_aa isaa_aa toaa_aa createaa_aa
anaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa organizationalaa_aa environmentaa_aa whereaa_aa peopleaa_aa withaa_aa differentaa_aa
characteristics,aa_aa suchaa_aa asaa_aa color,aa_aa race,aa_aa religion,aa_aa age,aa_aa nationality,aa_aa etc.,aa_aa getaa_aa theaa_aa
opportunityaa_aa toaa_aa coexistaa_aa andaa_aa workaa_aa byaa_aa embracingaa_aa theiraa_aa uniquenessaa_aa andaa_aa
individualityaa_aa (Royallaa_aa etaa_aa al.,aa_aa 2019).aa_aa Someaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa mainaa_aa typesaa_aa ofaa_aa trainingaa_aa
thataa_aa areaa_aa offeredaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa organizationaa_aa toaa_aa theaa_aa staffaa_aa membersaa_aa foraa_aa fosteringaa_aa
diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa includeaa_aa culturalaa_aa awarenessaa_aa training,aa_aa basicaa_aa diversityaa_aa
trainingaa_aa andaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa leadershipaa_aa training.aa_aa Eachaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa trainingaa_aa programsaa_aa
hasaa_aa distinctiveaa_aa purposesaa_aa andaa_aa objectives.aa_aa Theaa_aa fundamentalaa_aa purposeaa_aa ofaa_aa culturalaa_aa
awarenessaa_aa trainingaa_aa isaa_aa toaa_aa expandaa_aa theaa_aa culturalaa_aa competencyaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa employeesaa_aa
soaa_aa thataa_aa theyaa_aa canaa_aa respectaa_aa andaa_aa workaa_aa withaa_aa peopleaa_aa belongingaa_aa toaa_aa differentaa_aa
culturalaa_aa backgroundsaa_aa (Shepherd,aa_aa 2019).aa_aa Theaa_aa basicaa_aa diversityaa_aa trainingaa_aa focusesaa_aa
onaa_aa fosteringaa_aa respectaa_aa andaa_aa empathyaa_aa amongaa_aa workforce.aa_aa Theaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa leadershipaa_aa
DIVERSITY
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trainingaa_aa empowersaa_aa leadersaa_aa toaa_aa developaa_aa anaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa cultureaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplaceaa_aa
andaa_aa playaa_aa aaa_aa proactiveaa_aa roleaa_aa inaa_aa creatingaa_aa equalaa_aa opportunitiesaa_aa foraa_aa theaa_aa staff.
Theaa_aa programsaa_aa thataa_aa haveaa_aa beenaa_aa integratedaa_aa intoaa_aa theaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa
trainingaa_aa withinaa_aa theaa_aa organizationaa_aa playaa_aa anaa_aa instrumentalaa_aa roleaa_aa inaa_aa ensuringaa_aa
complianceaa_aa andaa_aa deepeningaa_aa theaa_aa comprehensionaa_aa andaa_aa commitmentaa_aa toaa_aa diversityaa_aa
andaa_aa inclusion.aa_aa Foraa_aa example,aa_aa theaa_aa culturalaa_aa awarenessaa_aa trainingaa_aa ensuresaa_aa thataa_aa
employeesaa_aa doaa_aa notaa_aa discriminateaa_aa againstaa_aa oneaa_aa anotheraa_aa basedaa_aa onaa_aa theiraa_aa culturalaa_aa
differences.aa_aa Instead,aa_aa theyaa_aa respectaa_aa theaa_aa differencesaa_aa andaa_aa functionaa_aa inaa_aa aaa_aa
cooperativeaa_aa andaa_aa cohesiveaa_aa manneraa_aa inaa_aa orderaa_aa toaa_aa meetaa_aa theaa_aa teamaa_aa objectivesaa_aa asaa_aa
wellaa_aa asaa_aa theaa_aa organizationalaa_aa goalsaa_aa (Al-Obaydi,aa_aa 2019).aa_aa Theaa_aa trainingaa_aa relatingaa_aa toaa_aa
inclusiveaa_aa leadershipaa_aa behavioraa_aa playsaa_aa aaa_aa keyaa_aa roleaa_aa inaa_aa nurturingaa_aa anaa_aa environmentaa_aa
whereaa_aa bothaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa areaa_aa givenaa_aa importance.aa_aa Theaa_aa trainingaa_aa
inculcatesaa_aa ‘takingaa_aa charge’aa_aa behavioraa_aa amongaa_aa theaa_aa leaders,aa_aa whichaa_aa increasesaa_aa theiraa_aa
levelaa_aa ofaa_aa commitmentaa_aa relatingaa_aa toaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa (Zengaa_aa etaa_aa al.,aa_aa
2020).aa_aa
2. "Fromaa_aa youraa_aa perspective,aa_aa whataa_aa areaa_aa theaa_aa mostaa_aa criticalaa_aa andaa_aa
apparentaa_aa barriersaa_aa andaa_aa challengesaa_aa keepingaa_aa youraa_aa organizationaa_aa fromaa_aa
movingaa_aa towardaa_aa greateraa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusion?
• Aaa_aa numberaa_aa ofaa_aa criticalaa_aa andaa_aa apparentaa_aa barriersaa_aa andaa_aa challengesaa_aa ariseaa_aa thataa_aa
keepaa_aa theaa_aa organizationaa_aa fromaa_aa movingaa_aa towardaa_aa greateraa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusion.aa_aa
Oneaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa mainaa_aa barriersaa_aa thataa_aa haveaa_aa beenaa_aa identifiedaa_aa isaa_aa theaa_aa short-termaa_aa
natureaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa training.aa_aa Bagaliaa_aa hasaa_aa arguedaa_aa thataa_aa foraa_aa
DIVERSITY
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stimulatingaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplace,aa_aa itaa_aa isaa_aa necessaryaa_aa toaa_aa
ensureaa_aa theaa_aa existenceaa_aa ofaa_aa continuousaa_aa andaa_aa ongoingaa_aa commitment.aa_aa Itaa_aa canaa_aa helpaa_aa
toaa_aa fosteraa_aa aaa_aa trust-basedaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa environmentaa_aa whereaa_aa employeesaa_aa fromaa_aa diverseaa_aa
backgroundsaa_aa feelaa_aa welcomedaa_aa andaa_aa acceptedaa_aa (Itamaa_aa &aa_aa Bagali,aa_aa 2019).aa_aa Accordingaa_aa
toaa_aa oneaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa interviewedaa_aa individuals,aa_aa theaa_aa lackaa_aa ofaa_aa ongoingaa_aa commitmentaa_aa
actsaa_aa asaa_aa aaa_aa majoraa_aa barrieraa_aa thataa_aa restrictsaa_aa greateraa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa withinaa_aa
theaa_aa organization.aa_aa Anotheraa_aa keyaa_aa barrieraa_aa thataa_aa hasaa_aa beenaa_aa identifiedaa_aa isaa_aa theaa_aa lackaa_aa
ofaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa leadership.aa_aa Inclusiveaa_aa leadersaa_aa serveaa_aa asaa_aa aaa_aa catalystaa_aa andaa_aa createaa_aa anaa_aa
opportunityaa_aa foraa_aa professionalsaa_aa fromaa_aa diverseaa_aa backgroundsaa_aa toaa_aa shareaa_aa theiraa_aa
varyingaa_aa perspectivesaa_aa andaa_aa collaborateaa_aa withaa_aa oneaa_aa anotheraa_aa toaa_aa meetaa_aa theaa_aa
organizationalaa_aa goalsaa_aa andaa_aa objectives.aa_aa Kuknoraa_aa hasaa_aa arguedaa_aa thataa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa
contemporaryaa_aa organizationalaa_aa landscape,aa_aa inclusiveaa_aa leadersaa_aa playaa_aa anaa_aa instrumentalaa_aa
roleaa_aa inaa_aa creatingaa_aa andaa_aa maintainingaa_aa anaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa environmentaa_aa withinaa_aa anaa_aa
organizationaa_aa (Kuknoraa_aa &aa_aa Bhattacharya,aa_aa 2020).aa_aa aa_aa aa_aa
However,aa_aa theaa_aa lackaa_aa ofaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa leadershipaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplaceaa_aa canaa_aa actaa_aa asaa_aa aaa_aa
bottleneckaa_aa andaa_aa limitaa_aa theaa_aa commitmentaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa leadersaa_aa andaa_aa theaa_aa organizationaa_aa
toaa_aa fosteraa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusion.aa_aa
Pooraa_aa culturalaa_aa awarenessaa_aa oraa_aa culturalaa_aa competenceaa_aa isaa_aa anotheraa_aa majoraa_aa barrieraa_aa
thataa_aa hampersaa_aa inclusionaa_aa andaa_aa diversityaa_aa withinaa_aa anaa_aa organization.aa_aa Itaa_aa canaa_aa leadaa_aa toaa_aa
unintentionalaa_aa biasaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workaa_aa setting.aa_aa Culturalaa_aa awarenessaa_aa isaa_aa pivotalaa_aa toaa_aa
encouragingaa_aa collaborationaa_aa andaa_aa theaa_aa creationaa_aa ofaa_aa harmoniousaa_aa relationshipsaa_aa
(Sinclair,aa_aa 2020).aa_aa However,aa_aa theaa_aa lackaa_aa ofaa_aa culturalaa_aa awarenessaa_aa canaa_aa leadaa_aa toaa_aa
misunderstandingsaa_aa andaa_aa giveaa_aa riseaa_aa toaa_aa conflictingaa_aa situations,aa_aa therebyaa_aa adverselyaa_aa
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affectingaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusion.aa_aa Inaa_aa theaa_aa globalizedaa_aa workplaceaa_aa settingaa_aa whereaa_aa
diversityaa_aa amongaa_aa theaa_aa workforceaa_aa isaa_aa increasing,aa_aa itaa_aa isaa_aa essentialaa_aa foraa_aa employersaa_aa
toaa_aa effectivelyaa_aa tackleaa_aa theaa_aa barriersaa_aa andaa_aa challengesaa_aa thataa_aa mayaa_aa ariseaa_aa andaa_aa
hamperaa_aa theaa_aa progressaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa withinaa_aa theaa_aa organization.aa_aa
3. "Howaa_aa doaa_aa theseaa_aa barriersaa_aa andaa_aa challengesaa_aa impactaa_aa peopleaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa
organizationaa_aa whoaa_aa representaa_aa aaa_aa particularaa_aa communityaa_aa ofaa_aa diversity?"
• Theaa_aa existenceaa_aa ofaa_aa barriersaa_aa andaa_aa challengesaa_aa relatingaa_aa toaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa
inclusionaa_aa canaa_aa haveaa_aa anaa_aa adverseaa_aa implicationaa_aa onaa_aa individualsaa_aa withinaa_aa theaa_aa
organizationaa_aa whoaa_aa representaa_aa aaa_aa particularaa_aa communityaa_aa ofaa_aa diversity.aa_aa Moodyaa_aa hasaa_aa
identifiedaa_aa thataa_aa theaa_aa existenceaa_aa ofaa_aa barriersaa_aa toaa_aa inclusionaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplaceaa_aa canaa_aa
restrictaa_aa theaa_aa opportunitiesaa_aa thataa_aa peopleaa_aa withaa_aa diverseaa_aa characteristicsaa_aa areaa_aa exposedaa_aa
itaa_aa (Moodyaa_aa etaa_aa al.,aa_aa 2017).aa_aa Theaa_aa lackaa_aa ofaa_aa opportunityaa_aa toaa_aa learnaa_aa oraa_aa growaa_aa canaa_aa
actaa_aa asaa_aa aaa_aa majoraa_aa demotivatingaa_aa factoraa_aa foraa_aa theaa_aa individuals,aa_aa whichaa_aa canaa_aa
diminishaa_aa theiraa_aa moraleaa_aa asaa_aa wellaa_aa asaa_aa theiraa_aa levelaa_aa ofaa_aa commitmentaa_aa toaa_aa theaa_aa
organization.aa_aa Theaa_aa inabilityaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa managementaa_aa toaa_aa effectivelyaa_aa manageaa_aa theaa_aa
barriersaa_aa andaa_aa challengesaa_aa thataa_aa limitaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa
organizationalaa_aa settingaa_aa canaa_aa giveaa_aa riseaa_aa toaa_aa aaa_aa negativeaa_aa perceptionaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa mindsaa_aa
ofaa_aa theaa_aa workforceaa_aa fromaa_aa diverseaa_aa backgrounds.aa_aa Theyaa_aa mayaa_aa feelaa_aa thataa_aa theaa_aa
employeraa_aa isaa_aa notaa_aa genuinelyaa_aa committedaa_aa toaa_aa welcomingaa_aa peopleaa_aa withaa_aa diverseaa_aa
attributes,aa_aa andaa_aa henceaa_aa itaa_aa isaa_aa unableaa_aa toaa_aa effectivelyaa_aa addressaa_aa theaa_aa barriersaa_aa thataa_aa
diminishaa_aa theaa_aa growthaa_aa ofaa_aa organizationalaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusion.aa_aa
DIVERSITY
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Theaa_aa existenceaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusion-relatedaa_aa barriersaa_aa andaa_aa challengesaa_aa mayaa_aa
giveaa_aa riseaa_aa toaa_aa aaa_aa gapaa_aa betweenaa_aa theaa_aa employeraa_aa andaa_aa theaa_aa employeesaa_aa representingaa_aa
aaa_aa specificaa_aa communityaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa adverselyaa_aa affectaa_aa theiraa_aa levelaa_aa ofaa_aa
performance,aa_aa productivityaa_aa andaa_aa jobaa_aa satisfaction.aa_aa Uddinaa_aa hasaa_aa arguedaa_aa thataa_aa pooraa_aa
inclusionaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplaceaa_aa canaa_aa giveaa_aa riseaa_aa toaa_aa impactsaa_aa ataa_aa varyingaa_aa levelsaa_aa
(Moodyaa_aa etaa_aa al.,aa_aa 2017).aa_aa Foraa_aa example,aa_aa limitedaa_aa inclusionaa_aa andaa_aa diversityaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa
workplaceaa_aa dueaa_aa toaa_aa challengesaa_aa suchaa_aa asaa_aa biasesaa_aa canaa_aa diminishaa_aa theaa_aa senseaa_aa ofaa_aa
belongingnessaa_aa oraa_aa inclusionaa_aa foraa_aa employeesaa_aa fromaa_aa specificaa_aa diversityaa_aa communities.aa_aa
Furthermore,aa_aa suchaa_aa challengesaa_aa andaa_aa barriersaa_aa mayaa_aa alsoaa_aa limitaa_aa theiraa_aa socialaa_aa
equalityaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplace,aa_aa hamperaa_aa theiraa_aa abilityaa_aa toaa_aa formaa_aa empoweringaa_aa
relationshipsaa_aa withaa_aa othersaa_aa andaa_aa restrictaa_aa theiraa_aa accessaa_aa toaa_aa valuableaa_aa organizationalaa_aa
resources.aa_aa Hence,aa_aa professionalsaa_aa representingaa_aa specificaa_aa diverseaa_aa communitiesaa_aa mayaa_aa
feelaa_aa thataa_aa theyaa_aa areaa_aa notaa_aa empoweredaa_aa andaa_aa valuedaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa organization.aa_aa
4. A.aa_aa Discussaa_aa youraa_aa ideasaa_aa andaa_aa whyaa_aa theyaa_aa mightaa_aa addressaa_aa theaa_aa
organization'saa_aa challenges.
• Inaa_aa theaa_aa contemporaryaa_aa organizationalaa_aa climate,aa_aa itaa_aa isaa_aa instrumentalaa_aa inaa_aa
addressingaa_aa theaa_aa challengesaa_aa thataa_aa mayaa_aa hamperaa_aa theaa_aa progressionaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa
inclusion.aa_aa Oneaa_aa ofaa_aa theaa_aa fundamentalaa_aa stepsaa_aa thataa_aa mustaa_aa beaa_aa takenaa_aa toaa_aa promoteaa_aa
diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa andaa_aa addressaa_aa theaa_aa relatedaa_aa challengesaa_aa isaa_aa toaa_aa adoptaa_aa anaa_aa
inclusiveaa_aa leadershipaa_aa approach.aa_aa Leadersaa_aa needaa_aa toaa_aa playaa_aa aaa_aa proactiveaa_aa roleaa_aa inaa_aa
creatingaa_aa aaa_aa welcomingaa_aa andaa_aa safeaa_aa organizationalaa_aa cultureaa_aa whereaa_aa everyaa_aa employeeaa_aa
canaa_aa beaa_aa heard,aa_aa getaa_aa theaa_aa opportunityaa_aa toaa_aa speakaa_aa upaa_aa andaa_aa feelaa_aa welcomedaa_aa (5aa_aa
DIVERSITY
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strategiesaa_aa foraa_aa creatingaa_aa anaa_aa inclusiveaa_aa workplace,aa_aa 2020).aa_aa Inclusiveaa_aa leadershipaa_aa isaa_aa
anaa_aa importantaa_aa ingredientaa_aa thataa_aa canaa_aa fosteraa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa
workplace.aa_aa Theaa_aa leadersaa_aa withinaa_aa theaa_aa organizationaa_aa needaa_aa toaa_aa makeaa_aa sureaa_aa thataa_aa
employeesaa_aa fromaa_aa differentaa_aa backgroundsaa_aa areaa_aa embracedaa_aa andaa_aa getaa_aa theaa_aa opportunityaa_aa
toaa_aa showaa_aa theiraa_aa uniqueaa_aa sideaa_aa insteadaa_aa ofaa_aa hidingaa_aa itaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplace.aa_aa Theaa_aa
commitmentaa_aa fromaa_aa theaa_aa topaa_aa management,aa_aa includingaa_aa theaa_aa leaders,aa_aa isaa_aa criticalaa_aa toaa_aa
create,aa_aa fosteraa_aa andaa_aa nurtureaa_aa aaa_aa cultureaa_aa ofaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa withinaa_aa anaa_aa
organization.aa_aa Theiraa_aa commitmentaa_aa andaa_aa dedicationaa_aa toaa_aa promoteaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa
inclusionaa_aa canaa_aa beaa_aa reflectedaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa formaa_aa ofaa_aa corporateaa_aa policiesaa_aa asaa_aa wellaa_aa asaa_aa
workaa_aa practices.aa_aa Aaa_aa vitalaa_aa stepaa_aa thataa_aa organizationsaa_aa needaa_aa toaa_aa takeaa_aa toaa_aa removeaa_aa
challengesaa_aa thataa_aa restrictaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa revolvesaa_aa aroundaa_aa theaa_aa
recognitionaa_aa ofaa_aa intentionalaa_aa asaa_aa wellaa_aa asaa_aa unintentionalaa_aa bias.aa_aa Shenoyaa_aa hasaa_aa arguedaa_aa
thataa_aa visibleaa_aa andaa_aa invisibleaa_aa biasesaa_aa mayaa_aa existaa_aa inaa_aa theaa_aa workplaceaa_aa andaa_aa adverselyaa_aa
affectaa_aa diversityaa_aa andaa_aa inclusionaa_aa (Shenoyaa_aa &aa_aa Kumar,aa_aa 2021).aa_aa Inaa_aa orderaa_aa toaa_aa dealaa_aa
withaa_aa suchaa_aa challenges,aa_aa itaa_aa isaa_aa essentialaa_aa toaa_aa identifyaa_aa barriersaa_aa leadingaa_aa toaa_aa biasaa_aa