THE STORY OF the emperor’s new clothes is one of Hans Christian Andersen’s best-known fables. Conmen fool the monarch into believing they have made him a fabulous suit that the unworthy will be unable to see. Courtiers dare not say that the emperor is naked; it takes a child to point out the obvious.
People from different backgrounds approach problems from different angles—that much should be blindingly obvious. It is not just about selecting people to teams from both sexes and various ethnicities . Hire only Cambridge politics graduates and they will have studied under the same professors and absorbed similar world views, regardless of their gender or skin colour.
There are two elements to selecting a good team. First, assemble people with diverse viewpoints. Second, ensure that those viewpoints are heard and respected. That may not happen if those in charge are overbearing.
One way to overcome diffidence while brainstorming, for instance, is for everyone to write down their ideas but ensure they are anonymous. That way, opinions about thoughts are less closely tied to the seniority of the thinker and can be tested against each other with less fear or favour . Increasing the number and range of ideas on offer may be the secret of success. As Mr Syed writes, the willingness to share knowledge pays off in a world of complexity.
DrPippaM Yeh but diverse how? Look different or think different. One is a ruse the other matters.
MAYBE WE NEED A MIX of Communism, capitalism, socialism, & democracy. Take the best elements of each & Mix them together to create something new for the 21 century No one system or theory has all the right answers, but a synthesis of all will work best if we're not too dogmatic
Did they also take into account diversity of education or were they all from Ivy League schools? If so, that’s a correlation does not equal causation problem.
There is time to speak your mind freely and to brainstorm ... and there is time to pull together even if you do not completely agree with the direction. It is important to provide for both and to know the difference.
The idea that people have independent diverse viewpoints is nonsense. 99% of the population parrots a dozen ideologies over and over. Innovation comes from people whom Corporate Culture excludes.
And Economist eat your own words. You are heavily weighted to the Left, even far Left, & to extreme feminism. Practice your own diversity principles. Free press - not you? Diversity can be a destroyer. Good faith between groups necessary but v. difficult - may not be possible.
Should university departments do the same? (All too tempting for them not to)
What a news!! How did you find this Stunning piece of rare information?
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