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Diversities of Diversities-Fluctuating talk

Olafsdottir, Björt and Sia, Choon Yen (2008)
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
Title: Diversities of diversity - fluctuating talk, meaning and practice of diversity
Seminar date: 06.02.08 Course: Masters thesis in Business Administration, Programme for Managing People, Knowledge and Change, 15 University Credit Points (15 ECTS). Authors: Björt Ólafsdóttir & Clarissa Sia Choon Yen
Advisors: Mats Alvesson & Susanne Lundholm
Five key words: Diversity, Discourses, Hypocrisy, Comparison, National context
Purpose: To identify and compare discourses around diversity within two companies operating in two distinct national contexts. One originated from and still situated in Iceland, while the other is a subsidiary for Asia-Pacific market in Singapore with American values from its headquarters in United States. We wish to... (More)
Title: Diversities of diversity - fluctuating talk, meaning and practice of diversity
Seminar date: 06.02.08 Course: Masters thesis in Business Administration, Programme for Managing People, Knowledge and Change, 15 University Credit Points (15 ECTS). Authors: Björt Ólafsdóttir & Clarissa Sia Choon Yen
Advisors: Mats Alvesson & Susanne Lundholm
Five key words: Diversity, Discourses, Hypocrisy, Comparison, National context
Purpose: To identify and compare discourses around diversity within two companies operating in two distinct national contexts. One originated from and still situated in Iceland, while the other is a subsidiary for Asia-Pacific market in Singapore with American values from its headquarters in United States. We wish to explore what are the meanings and implications of diversity for the employees of each company, how their discourses on diversity reflect hypocrisy in the organizations and if and how national context has an impact on discourse on diversity.
Methodology: Interviews were conducted, transcribed and codified. Comparison and evaluation of the different discourses were examined around diversity and in the talk of interviewees within the two companies. Theoretical perspectives: Discourses of diversity are being analysed and the model of organizational hypocrisy is being used to reveal how this is being use as a solution for the modern organization. Empirical foundation: Transcripts of interviews with 8 employees from the first company and 5 employees from the second company
Conclusions: We found that the two companies both acted in hypocrisy, when examining the relation between talk, decision and the actions of diversity within the firms. This appeared in the same way with the two companies on some dimensions and differently on others. We conclude that companies’ claims around diversity should be continued to be challenged and laid under critique, and that this would help to raise awareness of how companies are using positive and politically-correct term like diversity for justifying and maintaining status quo. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Olafsdottir, Björt and Sia, Choon Yen
supervisor
organization
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Diversity, Discourses, Hypocrisy, National context, Management of enterprises, Företagsledning, management
language
Swedish
id
1342904
date added to LUP
2008-06-02 00:00:00
date last changed
2012-04-02 17:01:22
@misc{1342904,
  abstract     = {{Title: Diversities of diversity - fluctuating talk, meaning and practice of diversity
Seminar date: 06.02.08 Course: Masters thesis in Business Administration, Programme for Managing People, Knowledge and Change, 15 University Credit Points (15 ECTS). Authors: Björt Ólafsdóttir & Clarissa Sia Choon Yen
Advisors: Mats Alvesson & Susanne Lundholm
Five key words: Diversity, Discourses, Hypocrisy, Comparison, National context
Purpose: To identify and compare discourses around diversity within two companies operating in two distinct national contexts. One originated from and still situated in Iceland, while the other is a subsidiary for Asia-Pacific market in Singapore with American values from its headquarters in United States. We wish to explore what are the meanings and implications of diversity for the employees of each company, how their discourses on diversity reflect hypocrisy in the organizations and if and how national context has an impact on discourse on diversity.
Methodology: Interviews were conducted, transcribed and codified. Comparison and evaluation of the different discourses were examined around diversity and in the talk of interviewees within the two companies. Theoretical perspectives: Discourses of diversity are being analysed and the model of organizational hypocrisy is being used to reveal how this is being use as a solution for the modern organization. Empirical foundation: Transcripts of interviews with 8 employees from the first company and 5 employees from the second company
Conclusions: We found that the two companies both acted in hypocrisy, when examining the relation between talk, decision and the actions of diversity within the firms. This appeared in the same way with the two companies on some dimensions and differently on others. We conclude that companies’ claims around diversity should be continued to be challenged and laid under critique, and that this would help to raise awareness of how companies are using positive and politically-correct term like diversity for justifying and maintaining status quo.}},
  author       = {{Olafsdottir, Björt and Sia, Choon Yen}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Diversities of Diversities-Fluctuating talk}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}