The first trends series, 2013: The D&I Tipping Point: 9 Key Trends, was so popular and there are so many other trends that impact D&I that I have been inspired to do a part 2 of the series with 6 more trends.
The 9 previous trends focused largely on diversity dimensions such as race, gender, age, disabilities, LGBT, veterans. This next series of six will concentrate on global societal trends that will also have significant impact on D&I practitioners’ work. The next series will look at:
D&I in a Hyper-Connected World: Technology pervades every aspect of D&I work from talent sourcing to learning modalities to virtual and remote workspaces to the introduction of robots that think and emote and compete with humans for jobs. What do D&I professional need to know and be able to do as it relates to fast moving technology?
The Cultural Competence Mandate: Every report on the skills needed for the future points to cultural competence as one of the key ones. It is no longer enough to be aware and sensitive of differences, leaders and individual contributors who are increasingly working across borders need to have the skills and abilities to bridge cultural differences for successful business results.
The Threatening Education Gap: “Throw Away” Kids?: We are all well aware of the severe education gaps that exist primarily for children of color. Educator and author Jonathon Kozel has called public schools in the US “apartheid schools”. The consequences are dire if we do not fix public education in the US. Globally, governments in most countries recognize the link between knowledge and skills of all citizens and long-term economic competitiveness.
The Haves and the Have Nots: A Growing Divide: Income, health, unemployment, and incarceration rates are four major areas where we still see wide gaps between whites and people of color, in the US and abroad. The trend lines are not getting better.
The Interdependence Mandate: We have to learn that the planet has to be shared. Technology has brought the world closer together and we really do need each other for survival. This is ever more evident with the ease of creating technology and global people networks. We are inextricably interconnected. Thinking and behaving mutualistically is necessary for our future survival.
Corporate Social Responsibility: New Twists: CSR has become a primary business focus on a global scale. The emphasis on CSR will continue to escalate in the future as companies recognize the interrelationship to economic, environmental and social sustainability. Some companies have placed CSR responsibilities with Chief Diversity Officers. What will this mean for the future?Download your copy of The Global D&I Tipping Point:
9 Key Trends in Diversity and Inclusion research report!
