Goals

The research network Modes of Organisational Diversity: Theory, Empiricism, and Practices aims to strengthen the integration of German-speaking diversity research into the international discourse on diversity and organisation. Our goal is to systematise and further develop disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to open up new perspectives on the relationship between diversity and organisation. Another key focus is to foster exchange among researchers in German-speaking countries to strengthen the connection between diversity and organisational research and inspire new collaborative initiatives.

Thematic Focus

Within the Modes of Organisational Diversity: Theory, Empiricism, and Practices network, six thematic workshop meetings take place. These one-and-a-half-day events, held semi-annually at various locations, offer network members and external guests the opportunity to present their research priorities and develop joint publications.

The kick-off meeting will focus on current diversity discourses and the related academic and organisational challenges. High-level actors from higher education policy and academia are invited to discuss how to navigate the emotionally and politically charged topic of diversity in research. A panel discussion with higher education policy representatives will round off the meeting.

The second meeting will focus on the interaction of various dimensions of diversity, such as racism, sexism, heteronormativity, and ableism. Discussions will explore how these dimensions intersect within organisations and how current systems of power and inequality can be characterised.

The third meeting will relate organisational theories to diversity theory. The focus will be on whether organisations reproduce or reduce social inequalities and how they can productively engage with diversity.

The fourth meeting will address the epistemological and methodological foundations of diversity-sensitive organisational research. Theoretical and methodological approaches necessary for adequately addressing diversity in organisational research will be discussed.

The fifth meeting will focus on sharing empirical findings. The aim is to reflect on how organisations perceive and address diversity and how this impacts theory development.

The final sixth meeting will summarise the insights gained and identify future research needs. The goal is to further anchor diversity and organisational research in Germany and to initiate joint projects.