Why DEI Programs Backfire (And How to Fix Them)
Every June, the professional world undergoes a temporary transformation, festooned in all the usual trappings of Pride Month. You know the drill: rainbow-ified company logos, colorful limited-edition merch, and an onslaught of LinkedIn posts from companies and executives applauding their own diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Over the past few decades, DEI has ballooned into a massive industry, projected to reach a value of $15.4 billion by 2026.1 Initiatives like unconscious bias training and sensitivity workshops have become frontline tools for organizations, private and public alike, to address internal concerns about equity and representation.
But as workplace DEI efforts have expanded, so too has the backlash towards them. And not without good reason: data suggests that many DEI initiatives fail. Since the 1980s, the demographics of organizational leaders have remained virtually unchanged, with women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ people largely locked out of power. 2,3
References
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lighthouses 2023 | McKinsey. (n.d.). Www.mckinsey.com. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-lighthouses-2023
- Dobbin, F., & Kalev, A. (2016, July). Why Diversity Programs Fail. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/07/why-diversity-programs-fail
- Ellsworth, D., Mendy, A., & Sullivan, G. (2020, June 23). How the LGBTQ community fares in the workplace | McKinsey. Www.mckinsey.com. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/how-the-lgbtq-plus-community-fares-in-the-workplace
- Dobbin, F., & Kalev, A. (2016, July). Why Diversity Programs Fail. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/07/why-diversity-programs-fail
- Ely, R. J., & Thomas, D. A. (2020, November 1). Getting Serious About Diversity: Enough Already with the Business Case. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/11/getting-serious-about-diversity-enough-already-with-the-business-case
- Inclusion doesn’t happen by accident: Measuring inclusion in a way that matters | McKinsey & Company. (n.d.). Www.mckinsey.com. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/inclusion-doesnt-happen-by-accident-measuring-inclusion-in-a-way-that-matters
- Our Culture. (n.d.). Made Music Studio. Retrieved June 21, 2023, from https://mademusicstudio.com/culture/
About the Authors
Sarah Chudleigh
Sarah Chudleigh is passionate about the accessible distribution of academic research. She has had the opportunity to practice this as an organizer of TEDx conferences, editor-in-chief of her undergraduate academic journal, and lead editor at the LSE Social Policy Blog. Sarah gained a deep appreciation for interdisciplinary research during her liberal arts degree at Quest University Canada, where she specialized in political decision-making. Her current graduate research at the London School of Economics and Political Science examines the impact of national values on motivations to privately sponsor refugees, a continuation of her interest in political analysis, identity, and migration policy. On weekends, you can find Sarah gardening at her local urban farm.
Katie MacIntosh
Katie MacIntosh is Lead Editor at The Decision Lab. She is interested in the intersection of behavioral science, culture, and new communication technologies. Before joining The Decision Lab, she contributed to research on the neurochemical bases of memory and the social psychology of the internet. An aspiring polyglot, she has studied a number of languages, including as an exchange student in Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Katie graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and linguistics.
About us
We are the leading applied research & innovation consultancy
Our insights are leveraged by the most ambitious organizations
“
I was blown away with their application and translation of behavioral science into practice. They took a very complex ecosystem and created a series of interventions using an innovative mix of the latest research and creative client co-creation. I was so impressed at the final product they created, which was hugely comprehensive despite the large scope of the client being of the world's most far-reaching and best known consumer brands. I'm excited to see what we can create together in the future.
Heather McKee
BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST
GLOBAL COFFEEHOUSE CHAIN PROJECT
OUR CLIENT SUCCESS
$0M
Annual Revenue Increase
By launching a behavioral science practice at the core of the organization, we helped one of the largest insurers in North America realize $30M increase in annual revenue.
0%
Increase in Monthly Users
By redesigning North America's first national digital platform for mental health, we achieved a 52% lift in monthly users and an 83% improvement on clinical assessment.
0%
Reduction In Design Time
By designing a new process and getting buy-in from the C-Suite team, we helped one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world reduce software design time by 75%.
0%
Reduction in Client Drop-Off
By implementing targeted nudges based on proactive interventions, we reduced drop-off rates for 450,000 clients belonging to USA's oldest debt consolidation organizations by 46%
