“ Decades of research concludes that socially diverse teams have proven to be more innovative than homogenous groups.
It's official. Diversity makes us smarter.
It’s something that has been under the spotlight for many years – how do organizations improve the equity, inclusion, and diversity within their workforces? Aside from it being a moral imperative, creating a balance in our teams where individuals feel safe, valued, and represented has untold business value. Decades of research from experts in sociology and psychology, economists, and organizational scientists conclude that socially diverse teams are more innovative than homogenous groups. This means, the more varied your teams are in gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and race, the better they are at comprehending complex ideas, working together towards solutions, and collaborating to solve problems more efficiently. While it makes sense that groups with more diverse expertise are more likely to be better at solving complex, non-routine challenges, science has proven that social diversity brings about the same benefits. Why? Simply put, people with different backgrounds bring unique angles and new information. Additionally, interacting with different people adjusts each personal mindset, enabling the individual to take on alternative viewpoints and understand the effort required in reaching a consensus.
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OIE MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01 | JUNE 2024
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