Opinto-opas

Objective

Explain the nature and value of a diverse workforce and its successful inclusion in the workplace.
Critically assess the advantages and challenges of a diverse workforce.
Apply the principles of diversity communication to group work.
Apply the principles of diversity communication to the international project module.
Critically reflect on the topic in relation to the theory and the student’s own experience.

Content

The course will take place in Moodle, and it is divided into modules for a multifaceted and thorough learning experience.

Module 1:
A theoretical approach to diversity: What is diversity? What are the characteristics of and problems specific to the main diversity categories? Advantages and disadvantages of a diverse workforce. What cognitive processes underly diversity dynamics?

Module 2:
The students will evaluate the difficulties in implementing inclusion at individual and organizational levels and propose solutions. In this module, the students work in groups and research the topic. Each group will present their findings and possible solutions.

Module 3:
This module consists of a project where the students work together with students from Monterrey University (Mexico).

Each module has three sections designed to engage the student in the cognitive and applied aspects of the topic:
Reading: This section contains reading material, audio files, PowerPoint presentations, guest lectures.
Writing: This section includes responding to discussion forums posts, mindmaps, peer to peer evaluations and reflection papers. Instructions will be given in each area to tell the students where they should post their material.
Doing: this section focuses on putting the student’s knowledge into practice.

Materials

Some of the texts and materials will be provided during the course. The students will be encouraged to do independent research.

Teaching methods

Instructor: Adriana Mustelin
adriana.mustelin@metroplia.fi
Tel.: +358 405748999

Tuition in English

Partner Universities: UDEM (Mexico) and Saxion UAS (Netherlands)

This course aims at introducing the leadership perspectives and skills necessary to develop a view of the advantages and challenges of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Diversity is viewed as differences in ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, and other dimensions of social identity that are marked by a history of intergroup prejudice, discrimination, or misunderstanding. The course explores the social dynamics and individual attitudes that get in the way of effective integration and functioning in organizations and it examines how organizations can foster conditions that make diversity a strength rather than a liability.
At the societal level, we will explore cultural norms, stereotypes and power imbalances between groups which result in identity threats. At the individual level, we will address attitudes, prejudices, privilege, defensive responses (e.g. withdrawal, retaliation, self-justification), and impression management. This module will motivate students to learn about themselves and others and explore the challenges and opportunities of adopting a learning orientation in conflict situations, and consider the facilitating role of leadership.
In addition, students will develop a tool, based on benchmarking and GAP analysis, to analyse the diversity and inclusion approach of an organization, and suggest possible strategies.

Course objectives:

1. To provide students with a framework for diagnosing the dynamics of a diverse workforce and for understanding and critically assess its advantages and challenges, while linking diversity with sustainability.
2. To explore how power-status differences among cultural identity groups in the larger society influence team dynamics;
3. To raise students’ awareness of how cultural identities, stereotypes, and the threat of being mistreated or misjudged shape workplace interactions.
4. To introduce a mindset and skills for responding constructively to tensions that may arise in a diverse work environment so that this diversity becomes an asset rather than a liability. That is, understand the nature and value of a diverse workforce and its successful inclusion in the workplace.
5. Apply the principles of diversity communication to group work.
6. Apply benchmarking and GAP analysis in the analysis of an organization and present the results and suggestions for the improvement of inclusion.
7. Critically reflect on the topic in relation to the theory and the student’s own experience.


Course description:

The course will mix pedagogical approaches. These include case discussion, self-assessments, discussion of a video, group work, and conceptual readings. The course material focuses on different dimensions of identity where power and status are differentially distributed in organizations (e.g., ethnicity, nationality, sexual identity, physical ability, religion, and social class). The course will include guest speakers from different organizations who will tell about their companies strategies and their results. In addition, the students will develop a tool based on benchmarking and GAP analysis to assess, in groups, organizations from Finland and Mexico. The COIL element will encourage students to make sense of their own and others’ experience of interactions and to practice exercising leadership in diversity learning.
The organization analysis allows for the use of concepts and frameworks to diagnose problems and propose solutions as leaders in order to secure the benefits of a culturally diverse workforce.
Structured self-assessment instruments allow students to identify directly with the constructs the course introduces, which gives students insight into their own behaviour; new ways of understanding past experiences; frameworks for thinking about how they want to behave in the future; and opportunities to put those frameworks into practice in real-time.
The reflection paper will allow students to reflect on the course and their experiences.

Structure and Content:

The course is divided into two modules for a multifaceted and thorough learning experience.

Module 1:
A theoretical approach to diversity: What is diversity? What are the characteristics of and problems specific to the main diversity categories? Advantages and disadvantages of a diverse workforce. What cognitive processes underly diversity dynamics?
Topics:
1. Introduction to Social Identity Groups
2. Benchmarking and GAP analysis
3. High and Low-Status Social Identity Groups
4. Assessing Implicit Biases and Stereotypes
5. Managing a Public Image
6. Addressing Conflict Constructively
7. Leadership and Diversity



Module 2:
The students will evaluate the difficulties in implementing inclusion at individual and organizational levels and propose solutions. In this module, the students work in groups and research the topic. Each group will present their findings and possible solutions with a focus on sustainable development.

Each module has three sections designed to engage the student in the cognitive and applied aspects of the topic:
Reading: This section contains reading material, assessing audio and video files, recorded lectures and guest lectures.
Writing: This section includes responding to discussion forums posts, mindmaps, peer to peer evaluations and reflection papers. Instructions will be given in each area to tell the students where they should post their material.
Doing: this section focuses on putting the student’s knowledge into practice by analyzing a specific company and presenting a set of suggestions.

Assignment types:

Reading the suggested material.
Participating/listening to recorded lectures
Participating/listening to guest speakers
Self-assessment activities
Producing concept maps and reflection papers
Group work (planning, research and presentations)

Texts and Materials:
Some of the texts and materials will be provided during the course. The students will be encouraged to do independent research.

Requirements:
This course is aimed at advanced Bachelor students and Master students.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient performance:
showing just enough understanding of the subject to merit a pass grade but requiring greater effort to achieve a more satisfactory result

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good performance:
showing strong understanding of basic concepts and good grasp of techniques, but with certain minor problems still requiring further attention.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent performance:
not only fulfils all standard requirements but demonstrates originality and imagination

Qualifications

This course is aimed at advanced Bachelor students and Master students.