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.