Blog: Taking a values-based approach to DEIB

Taking a values-based approach to DEIB

It is the best of times; it is the worst of times, when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion, says Anselm A. Beach, deputy assistant secretary of the United States Army‘s Equity and Inclusion Agency. It‘s the best of times because more DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging)

conversations are occurring, and more attention is being paid to the issues that surround these initiatives. It is the worst of times because if conversations aren‘t in the correct context or they don‘t come from an authentic place it can lead to upset, anxiety, misunderstanding and frustration.

Sometimes, companies who want to make employees feel content, or who need to placate public outcry, jump to quick fixes for the sake of optics and brand reputation, or in the hope that corporate culture will improve. When a corporation jumps to a quick fix instead of looking at root causes of DEIB issues, improvements may be made in the short term, but cracks will appear in the foundation over time. DEI is the water in the river—not the boat floating on top, says Sonia Vora, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.[i]

According to research by MIT Sloan Management Review, Achieving DEI isn't a linear process but rather a commitment to cultivating core values and turning guiding principles into organizational habits.[ii]

MIT Sloan conducted surveys and field studies of seventeen companies that have showed substantial movement toward DEIB. From that research, the Values/Principles Model (VPM) was created—a framework that is both structured and measurable.

Creating a rich tapestry

We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.

— Maya Angelou, poet, and civil rights activist

The MIT Sloan research states that, The model is based on four values: representation, participation, application, and appreciation, along with seven guiding principles that drive the achievement of the values.^{^[iii]} While none of these four foundational values are new, it is nice that the MIT Sloan team conducted multi-year research to confirm that this is how to successfully drive organizational change. These are not quick fixes; they are foundational values on which to build.

Representation refers to the richness of an organization‘s talent pool and how diverse perspectives expand business capabilities.

Participation is about creating a safe space where everyone is encouraged to freely contribute.

Application is a human-centered, inclusive organizational structure that is focused on talent and individual outcome over hierarchical titles.

Appreciation is recognizing, enjoying, and being grateful for the value DEIB brings and rewarding inclusive behavior internally over corporate awards.

The seven corresponding principles are actions necessary to achieve the four values. The research states that companies must begin by prioritizing the following practices:

Building a moral case
Encouraging willful interrogation
Developing new mental models
Adopting entrepreneurial leadership
Ensuring accountability
Being ambitious
Expanding the boundary^{^[iv]}

"Think about the values/principles model as giving your team the best tools to succeed not just for themselves but for the organization and the customers. You are offering left-handed baseball gloves to those who need them rather than forcing everyone to play right-handed and thus preventing some people from doing their best," says researcher Albert H. Segars, PNC Distinguished Professor with the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

[i]MIT Sloan Management Review, How a Values-Based Approach Advances DEI (2022).

https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/how-a-values-based-approach-advances-dei/?utm_source=release&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=beach0622

[ii] MIT Sloan Management Review, Press Release: How a Values-Based Approach Advances DEI (2022).

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/how-a-values-based-approach-advances-dei-301562154.html#:~:text=Based%20on%20surveys%20and%20field,framework%20for%20transforming%20the%20workplace.

[iii] Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, DEI Progress Report (2021). https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/documents/bill_and_melinda_gates_foundation_2021_dei_progress_report.pdf

[iv] MIT Sloan Management Review, Press Release: How a Values-Based Approach Advances DEI (2022).

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/how-a-values-based-approach-advances-dei-301562154.html#:~:text=Based%20on%20surveys%20and%20field,framework%20for%20transforming%20the%20workplace.