TY - JOUR

T1 - Reconstructing Diversity Management and Communication from a Constitutive-Polyphonic Perspective

AU - Trittin, Hannah

AU - Schoeneborn, Dennis

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This paper is concerned with examining the underlying conceptualizations of communication in the extant literature on diversity management. Looking at the dimension of communication is important if we consider the fundamental communicative embeddedness of organizations in broader society. Our paper is based on the observation that the extant literature on diversity management, i.e. both from the strategic-instrumental tradition and from the critical-normative tradition, is primarily concerned with the ways in which intra-organizational workforce diversity is accomplished (i.e. among individual employees). In this paper, we add to this literature by developing a complementary, communication-centered perspective that opens up diversity management also towards extra-organizational discourses. Specifically, we propose to draw on works from the “communication constitutes organization” (CCO) perspective. Based on this view, our study contributes to the extant literature on diversity management by moving away from categories among organizational members towards a processual understanding of diversity as diversity as polyphony of internal and external voices. A constitutive-polyphonic reconstruction of diversity management considers in particular the role of third parties for adding to the communicative constitution of organizations. Accordingly, we understand diversity management as a form of organizational boundary maintenance.

AB - This paper is concerned with examining the underlying conceptualizations of communication in the extant literature on diversity management. Looking at the dimension of communication is important if we consider the fundamental communicative embeddedness of organizations in broader society. Our paper is based on the observation that the extant literature on diversity management, i.e. both from the strategic-instrumental tradition and from the critical-normative tradition, is primarily concerned with the ways in which intra-organizational workforce diversity is accomplished (i.e. among individual employees). In this paper, we add to this literature by developing a complementary, communication-centered perspective that opens up diversity management also towards extra-organizational discourses. Specifically, we propose to draw on works from the “communication constitutes organization” (CCO) perspective. Based on this view, our study contributes to the extant literature on diversity management by moving away from categories among organizational members towards a processual understanding of diversity as diversity as polyphony of internal and external voices. A constitutive-polyphonic reconstruction of diversity management considers in particular the role of third parties for adding to the communicative constitution of organizations. Accordingly, we understand diversity management as a form of organizational boundary maintenance.

KW - Management studies

KW - “communication constitutes organization” (CCO)

KW - boundary management

KW - Diversity Management

U2 - 10.5465/AMBPP.2014.15071abstract

DO - 10.5465/AMBPP.2014.15071abstract

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

SP - Art-Nr. 15071

JO - Academy of Management Proceedings

JF - Academy of Management Proceedings

SN - 0065-0668

IS - Januar 2014

M1 - 15071

ER -