AU 
Canadian siteThe Fifth Issue – The Diversity Challenge
The theme of the Fifth Issue The Diversity Challenge
Definitions of diversity typically refer to “a range of people with various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds and various lifestyles, experiences, and interests, and representations of age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, and political perspectives.”
Diversity is often aspired to, and less often achieved. Questions that might be considered include: Does diversity matter? Does positive discrimination make a difference? What are the obstacles and points of resistance and how can they be countered? Do targets or quotas work?? What difference does a diverse profile make to business and governance? Is it just a slogan?
Our authors have leveraged their industry knowledge and unique viewpoint in the following articles. This issue represents the work and opinions of AIB’s wider community, addressing hot topics through an educational lens. I am proud to present the fifth AIB Review by a wide range of our outstanding Academics and Alumni, who have brought their fresh perspectives from their respective disciplines and industries.
Australian Institute of Business Academics
Diversity Management Is Not A Myth, It’s A Reality For A Productive Workplace And Increased Profitability
Dr Tareq Rasul, Senior Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Dr Sumesh Nair, Senior Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
While a diverse workforce benefits an organisation from various perspectives, there are some challenges that an organisation needs to carefully address. This article discusses a number of key strategies that can be employed to address these challenges.
Let’s NOT Be On the Same Page: Project Managers Need To Harness Various (and Opposing) Views
Michael Broadbent, Group Executive, Qscan Group and Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Mohsen Varsei, Senior Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Groupthink has long been recognised as an impediment to organisational success. This article discusses a variety of ways of widening creative inputs into the decision-making process.
Rethinking Diversity – Importance of Inclusion, Equity and Empathy
Dr Sumesh Nair, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Dr Mamun Ala, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Diversity is a fact of life. This article discusses the moral imperative that should drive inclusive strategies in every facet of an organisation’s functions and strategies.
When Lack of Diversity is no Longer an Option: The Increasing Importance of Consumer Voice in Shaping Brand Decisions and the Market
Dr Diane Kalendra, Discipline Leader Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Australian Institute of Business.
Dr Bora Qesja, Marketing Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business
This article examines the cosmetics industrywhere lack of diversity (especially relating to skin colour) has been of key focus in the last few years, highlighting the role consumer voice has played in shaping the direction the industry is taking when it comes to product inclusivity.
Creating Job Opportunities In The Pacific Through Diversification
Dr Uwe Kaufman, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business
Covid has had a devastating effect on the economies of Australia’s Pacific Island neighbours. This article discusses the reasons for this, and the priorities for development going forward if the negative impacts on women are to be avoided in future crises.
Mind Your Language: Promoting An Age-Inclusive Workforce
Dr Jacqueline Larkin
If words are associated with different ages, how do organisations communicate to different age groups of people in the workforce at the same time? This article discusses many of the tricky issues involved when different generations are meant to communicate with each other in non-discriminatory ways.
Disability: The Missing Diversity Category
Carlene Boucher, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Disability is often glossed over in the management literature on diversity. This article discusses some of the ways that disability has been understood in society, and why organisations need to do better if they are to realise their full potential.
Gender Diversity PLUS: Beyond the ‘She’ Effect & Tokenism
Christiana Osei Bonsu, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Shrimal Perera, Senior Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
It is well known that women are under-represented on company boards and in senior management. This article provides an international context for this situation, and suggests some of the reasons why.
Direct Selling: Tackling the Challenge of Women’s Inclusion in the Base of the Pyramid (BOP) Labour Markets
Mahan Poorhosseinzadeh, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Samaneh Soleimani, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Maryam Masoumi, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Mulyadi Robin, Associate Professor, Australian Institute of Business.
A major cause of poverty for women in many societies is their exclusion from the labour market. This article discusses the use of “direct selling” as one way of tackling this deficit in developing economies.
The Inclusive Dance: Ways to Leverage a Diverse Culture
Mahan Poorhosseinzadeh, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Alicia Stanway, Industry Engagement Officer, Subject Coordinator and Academic Integrity Officer, Australian Institute of Business.
Ingrid Day, Academic Dean, Australian Institute of Business.
Diversity and inclusion are closely related concepts, but they are not identical. This article discusses various strategies that AIB have used to stress inclusiveness in the workplace, and the productivity gains this has enabled.
Is It a Bloody Good Idea? Talking About Menstrual and Menopause Leave in Australia
The recent introduction of a paid menstrual and menopausal leave scheme in Australia by Future Super earlier this year – called the “Bloody Good Policy” - brought back to the fore some controversies that have tended to accompany any gender-equality related policy changes. This article highlights a form of gender-based discrimination that is often ignored.
Accentism – A Serious Form Of Disguised Prejudice In Culturally Diverse Societies
Dr Kuldeep Kaur, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Dr Dilraj Wadhwa, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Dr Mamun Ala, Lecturer, Australian Institute of Business.
Accent is an important aspect of our identity. Everyone has an accent but not all accents are treated equally. This article discusses “accentism” as a form of disguised prejudice in culturally diverse societies
Australian Institute of Business Alumni
Lack of Equal Representation in the Australian Television Media
Sanjay Bhosale, Assistant Director Communications, Australian Government and AIB MBA Alumni.
An increasing number of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have made their mark in the Australian print media. But not on television. This article explores this absence in greater detail.
The Diversity Challenge
Vernice N. C. Phillip, MBA Graduate, Australian Institute of Business.
Diversity in the workplace can provide an organisation with access to a variety of perspectives if an inclusive environment is created that supports the expression of multiplicity of viewpoints. This article discusses styles of leadership that harness diversity rather than suppress it.
Title Discrimination, Mental Health & Recruitment Processes – A Personal Reflection
Francesca D’Urso, Sourcing and Procurement Analyst, Global Strategic Sourcing (Indirect Operations) at CAE Inc. and AIB MBA Alumni.
Discrimination, especially against women, can be built into job titles and position descriptions in the recruitment process. This article discusses why this might be becoming even more of a problem with the increased take-up of automated hiring practices.
Diversity as a Cure for the One Tracked Mind
Tanyika Fraser, Strategy, Design & Planning Consultant, Author, Self Employed and AIB MBA Alumni.
Divergent thinking can be a two-edged sword. This article discusses some of the advantages to be gained, but also some of the pitfalls.
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