Human diversity in management and strategy studies: A bibliometric study

Abstract Purpose Our aim is to demonstrate how diversity is seen and how it could be represented as a set of meanings and beliefs and interpretative schemes within a social movement theory. Theoretical framework Our study is grounded in diversity and social movement theories. Design/methodology/approach Through a bibliometric study, we analyzed 121 papers published in 89 journals in the management and strategy field. The studies were classified and analyzed according to their distribution in two lines of research. The first line comprises studies that correlate patterns in social differences. The second line includes diversity studies developed based on critical research paradigms regarding characteristics related to specific social groups or minorities. Findings Considering the two lines of research that predominate in studies of human diversity, which clearly present different focuses in relation to their objectives, this research described the configuration of publications in these lines. We offer four propositions for organizational analysis and strategy studies considering diversity as a social movement. Practical & social implications of research Our work has a theoretical implication by including a new concept of organization and our practical implication lies in the possibilities for an inclusive way to view diversity in the organizational context. Originality/value This research paper provides informative insights in studying social movements as a category of diversity. It also complements the understanding of human diversity as a topic of interest in organization studies. This serves as good information to improve the development of themes of diversity in the workplace.

摘要 研究目的：本研究旨在阐明多样性的认知面向，以及如何将其表征为社会运动理论框架下的一系列意义、信念与阐释范式。理论框架：本研究扎根于多样性理论与社会运动理论的双重理论基础。研究设计与方法：本研究采用文献计量分析方法，对管理学与战略学领域89种期刊刊载的121篇学术论文展开系统分析。依据两条核心研究脉络对现有文献进行分类与解读：第一条脉络聚焦于探究社会差异模式间的内在关联；第二条脉络则涵盖基于批判研究范式开展的、围绕特定社会群体或少数群体相关特征展开的多样性研究。研究发现：针对当前人类多样性研究中占主导地位的两条研究脉络——二者在研究目标上呈现出显著差异化的研究导向——本研究梳理并阐明了这两类研究脉络下的文献出版格局。基于此，本研究针对将多样性视作社会运动的组织分析与战略研究，提出四项命题。研究的实践与社会意义：本研究的理论贡献在于引入了一种全新的组织认知视角；实践价值则为在组织场景中以包容性视角审视多样性提供了可行路径。研究创新性与价值：本研究为将社会运动作为多样性研究范畴展开探讨提供了富有启发性的学术见解，同时深化了人类多样性作为组织研究核心议题的认知，可为职场多样性主题的后续发展提供有益参考。