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Equality, diversity, and inclusion in international business: A review and research agenda

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Abstract

To remain relevant, IB research must address the increasing pressure being applied to multinational enterprises (MNEs) to address equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). In this first systematic review of EDI in international business (IB), we evaluate the extent to which IB research on EDI addresses current and future demands for global equality and social justice. Our text analysis of 1618 articles indicates that EDI research within IB focuses on similar diversity categories (e.g., gender) and rationales for addressing EDI (e.g., performance) as mainstream EDI research from outside IB, but that IB research does not leverage the global aspects of the MNE, and is slower to shift its goal from firm or team performance to the inclusion of underrepresented groups. Our subsequent narrative review of 101 articles within IB indicates that IB excels at theorizing mechanisms related to heterogeneity, but avoids moral arguments for EDI, and that findings are often blind to power or status differences, postcolonial legacies, and other inequalities. We call for more moral-based and power-laden analysis that could mitigate international resistance to EDI, while maintaining an interest in EDI’s relationship to organizational performance. At the intersection of IB and EDI research, we see the opportunity to lead societal change.

Résumé

Pour rester pertinente, la recherche en affaires internationales (International Business – IB) doit répondre à la pression croissante exercée sur les entreprises multinationales (Multinational Enterprises – MNEs) pour qu'elles prennent en compte l'égalité, la diversité et l'inclusion (EDI). Dans ce premier examen systématique de l'EDI dans l’IB, nous évaluons dans quelle mesure la recherche en IB portée sur l'EDI répond aux demandes actuelles et futures en matière de justice sociale et d'égalité à l'échelle mondiale. Notre analyse textuelle de 1618 articles indique que la recherche sur l’EDI au sein de l'IB se focalise sur des catégories de diversité (par exemple, le genre) et des justifications pour aborder l'EDI (par exemple, la performance) similaires à celles des principaux courants de recherche sur l'EDI en dehors de l'IB, mais que la recherche en IB n'exploite pas les aspects globaux de la MNE, et est plus lente à déplacer son objectif de la performance de l'entreprise ou de l'équipe vers l'inclusion des groupes sous-représentés. L'examen narratif de 101 articles publiés dans le domaine de l'IB montre que ce dernier excelle à théoriser les mécanismes liés à l'hétérogénéité, mais évite les arguments moraux en faveur de l'EDI, et que les conclusions de la recherche en IB ne prennent souvent pas une conscience nette des différences de pouvoir ou de statut, des héritages postcoloniaux et d’autres inégalités. Nous appelons à une analyse plus morale et plus axée sur le pouvoir laquelle pourrait atténuer la résistance internationale à l'EDI, tout en continuant à s'intéresser à la relation entre l’EDI et la performance organisationnelle. À l'intersection des recherches portées sur l'IB et l'EDI, nous voyons l'opportunité de conduire un changement sociétal.

Resumen

Para que la investigación en Negocios Internacionales siga siendo relevante debe enfrentar la presión que viene aumentando para las empresas multinacionales (MNEs por sus iniciales en inglés) para abordar la igualdad, la diversidad y la inclusión (EDI por sus iniciales en inglés). En esta primera revisión sistemática sobre igualdad, diversidad e inclusión en negocios internacionales, evaluamos hasta que punto la investigación en negocios internacionales sobre igualdad, diversidad e inclusión aborda las demandas futuras y presentes por igualdad global y justicia social. Nuestro análisis textual de 1618 artículos indica que la investigación sobre igualdad, diversidad e inclusión en Negocios Internacionales se enfoca en categorías similares (es decir, género) y justificaciones (es decir, desempeño) como temas convencionales que abordan asuntos de igualdad, diversidad e inclusión desde fuera de Negocios Internacionales, pero que la investigación de Negocios Internacionales no se apalanca en los aspectos globales de las empresas multinacionales, y está más lenta para cambiar del desempeño de la empresa o los equipos a la inclusión de grupos subrepresentados. Posteriormente una revisión narrativa de artículos en Negocios Internacionales indica que Negocios Internacionales sobresale en los mecanismos de teorización relacionada con la heterogeneidad, pero evita los argumentos morales para la igualdad, diversidad e inclusión, y que los hallazgos ignorar las diferencias de poder o estatus, los legados post-coloniales, y otras desigualdades. Hacemos un llamado a análisis basados en la moral y en la carga de poder que pudieran mitigar la resistencia e integres en la relación entre la igualdad, diversidad e inclusión, y el desempeño organizacional. En la investigación en la intersección entre Negocios Internacionales y la igualdad, diversidad e inclusión, vemos una oportunidad para liderar el cambio social.

Resumo

Para permanecer relevante, a pesquisa em IB deve abordar a crescente pressão aplicada a empresas multinacionais (MNEs) para abordar igualdade, diversidade e inclusão (EDI). Nesta primeira revisão sistemática de EDI em negócios internacionais (IB), avaliamos até que ponto a pesquisa em IB sobre EDI aborda demandas atuais e futuras por igualdade global e justiça social. Nossa análise textual de 1.618 artigos indica que a pesquisa em EDI dentro de IB se concentra em categorias de diversidade semelhantes (por exemplo, gênero) e justificativas para abordar EDI (por exemplo, desempenho) à pesquisa tradicional em EDI fora de IB, mas que a pesquisa em IB não alavanca os aspectos globais das MNE, e é mais lenta para alterar seu objetivo de desempenho da empresa ou da equipe para a inclusão de grupos sub-representados. Nossa subsequente revisão de narrativas de 101 artigos em IB indica que IB se destaca em teorizar mecanismos relacionados à heterogeneidade, mas evita argumentos morais para EDI, e que os resultados são frequentemente indiferentes a diferenças de poder ou status, legados pós-coloniais e outras desigualdades. Pedimos uma análise mais baseada em moral e suprida de poder que possa mitigar a resistência internacional a EDI, enquanto imbuída pelo interesse na relação entre EDI e desempenho organizacional. Na interseção da pesquisa entre IB e EDI, vemos a oportunidade de liderar mudanças sociais.

摘要

为了保持相关性, IB研究必须解决跨国企业 (MNE) 在解决**等、多样性和包容性 (EDI) 问题上面临的越来越大的压力。在这篇关于国际商业 (IB) 中的EDI的首次系统综述中, 我们评估了IB对EDI的研究在多大程度上解决了当前和未来对全球**等和社会**义的需求。我们对1618篇文章的文本分析表明, IB内部的EDI研究侧重于与IB外部的主流EDI研究类似的多样性类别 (如性别) 和解决EDI的理由 (如绩效) , 但IB研究没有利用MNE的全球方位, 且将其目标从公司或团队绩效转变为容纳代表性不足的群体的速度较慢。我们随后对IB中101篇文章的叙述性综述表明, IB擅长将与异质性相关的机制理论化, 但避免了EDI的道德争论, 而且研究结果往往对权力或地位差异、后殖民遗产和其它不**等现象视而不见。我们呼吁进行更多基于道德和权力的分析, 以减轻国际社会对EDI的抵制, 同时保持对EDI与组织绩效关系的兴趣。在IB和EDI研究的交叉点上, 我们看到了领导社会变革的机会。

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sincere thanks to our editor Dana Minbaeva, and reviewers, along with Nicole Terry, Kiersten van Gulick, Sanaz Matin Koosha, Aminat Muibi and Weiwei Yang for RA support on pulling this paper together. We couldn’t have done it without you! Also thanks to our exceptional library staff members, Sue Bengston and Emily Nickerson. Funding was supported by a grant from the Social Sciences Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada

    Stacey Fitzsimmons & David C. Thomas

  2. Brunel Business School, London, UK

    Mustafa F. Özbilgin

  3. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Stella Nkomo

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  1. Stacey Fitzsimmons
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  2. Mustafa F. Özbilgin
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  3. David C. Thomas
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  4. Stella Nkomo
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Correspondence to Stacey Fitzsimmons.

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Accepted by Dana Minbaeva, Consulting Editor, 26 May 2023. This article has been with the authors for four revisions.

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Fitzsimmons, S., Özbilgin, M.F., Thomas, D.C. et al. Equality, diversity, and inclusion in international business: A review and research agenda. J Int Bus Stud 54, 1402–1422 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-023-00642-x

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