Diversity for Justice vs. Diversity for Performance: Philosophical and Empirical Tensions

Many business ethicists, activists, analysts, and corporate leaders claim that businesses are obligated to promote diversity for the sake of justice. Many also say—good news!—that diversity promotes the bottom line. We do need not choose between social justice and profits. This paper splashes some c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of business ethics 2023-10, Vol.187 (3), p.433-447
Main Author: Brennan, Jason
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Bias
Business and Management
Business Ethics
Civil rights
Demography
Education
Ethics
Good news
Group performance
Hiring
Households
Management
Multiculturalism & pluralism
News
Original Paper
Philosophy
Political leadership
Political parties
Profits
Quality of Life Research
Social justice
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Summary:Many business ethicists, activists, analysts, and corporate leaders claim that businesses are obligated to promote diversity for the sake of justice. Many also say—good news!—that diversity promotes the bottom line. We do need not choose between social justice and profits. This paper splashes some cold water on the attempt to mate these two claims. On the contrary, I argue, there is philosophical tension between arguments which say diversity is a matter of justice and (empirically sound) arguments which say diversity promotes performance. Further, the kinds of interventions these distinct arguments suggest are different. Things get worse when we examine the theory and empirical evidence about how diversity affects group performance. The kind of diversity which promotes justice and the kind which promotes the bottom line are distinct—and the two can be at odds.
ISSN:0167-4544
1573-0697
DOI:10.1007/s10551-022-05278-9