Managing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
Overview
This unit introduces students to the roles diversity and inclusion have in enhancing the performance of employees and their organisation. It illustrates how the benefits of diversity can be realised, and how its challenges can be overcome, through effective management and HR policies and practices. In doing so, it emphasises the close relationship that should be established between diversity and inclusion in building a fair and equitable workplace. Furthermore, it connects diversity and inclusion issues with aspects of employee health and well-being, professional identity, and cross-cultural management. Approaches to evaluating diversity and inclusion program effectiveness in organisations are also discussed.
Requisites
01-June-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Develop coherent and advanced knowledge of the concepts and theoretical constructs that enhance understanding of difference and diversity as intrinsic to the development of individual, team and organisational knowledge and skills
- Critically evaluate the issues associated with developing and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives that are equitable and sustainable within the workplace
- Critically analyse the psychological processes that influence our own and others' assumptions, attitudes and stereotypes regarding differences in diversity
- Critically evaluate the ethical, social justice and professional issues associated with diversity management in the contemporary workplace from the perspective of different stakeholders
- Critically reflect on the role of line managers and the senior management team in managing and leading teams
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On Campus Class |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Learning Activities |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
9.5 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | Group | 30 - 40% | 1,3,4,5 |
| Project Report | Group | 10 - 20% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Report | Individual | 10 - 20% | 1,3 |
| Research Report | Individual | 30 - 50% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Theoretical underpinnings of diversity in terms of categorisation and identity
- The business case for diversity and Inclusion
- The social and demographic changes, from a global and local perspective, that are relevant to understanding diversity management
- Visible and invisible diversity in the workforce: visible minorities (race, ethnicity, gender, indigeneity); invisible diversity (diverse sexualities, gender identities, linguistic and cultural diversity)
- Evaluating the effectiveness of implementing diversity and inclusion programs
- Cross cultural management
- Mental health and wellbeing in the diverse workforce
- The legal and ethical landscape of diversity management practice and corporate governance: social justice, equity and fairness in the workplace
- Inclusion, privilege and structural inequalities
- Professional identity and advocacy roles
- Top management team diversity and board diversity: their relevance to dynamic environments
- Managing tensions in a diverse workforce: working with others who hold conflicting social and cultural values
- The future of diversity initiatives
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.