Improving Workforce Diversity and Inclusion

Abstract

Across multiple sectors, leaders are striving to ensure that their workforces represent the communities that they serve and seeking to intentionally integrate individual differences into organizational functions and decisions. This document highlights RAND Corporation research on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) that may be applicable to Department of the Air Force (DAF) DEI efforts. MORE THAN DEMOGRAPHIC CONSIDERATIONS: Diversity and inclusion mean different things to different people. Demographic diversity includes differences with respect to an individuals age, race/ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, family status, disability status, and geographic origin. Organizations must comply with applicable federal laws that often focus on demographic characteristics and are designed to combat unlawful discrimination and promote equal opportunity in the workplace. Many organizations, however, consider broader workforce differences when seeking to improve diversity. These include not only demographic characteristics but also differences with respect to skills, styles of thinking, and previous experiences. In addition, organizations have increasingly moved to both address diversity and promote inclusion. Facilitating inclusion involves creating an organizational culture of mutual respect in which all individuals feel free to contribute, with no impediments to their success. DATA-DRIVEN APPROACHES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: RAND researchers have substantial experience and expertise in designing and conducting studies to support organizational diversity and inclusion initiatives. RAND staff include more than 600 doctoral-level researchers with expertise in a wide range of topics. RAND relies on state-of-the-art methods to evaluate research questions, test hypotheses, and provide organizations with actionable recommendations. RAND researchers have used various methods to conduct DEI studies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 12, 2022
Accession Number
AD1168539

Entities

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Corporations
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Equal Employment Opportunity
  • Game Theory
  • Inclusions
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Life Cycles
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Training
  • Public Policy
  • Resource Management
  • Sexual Assault
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Space Force
  • Training
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Gender and Food Studies
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).
  • Systems Analysis and Design