Diversity and Inclusion in the Board Room

In C-suites and boardrooms all over the globe Diversity and inclusion are quickly evolving from buzzwords and pledges to actualities.

While these discussions might be focused on the company but it’s important that the decisions made in these rooms impact everyone involved, from the employees of the company, to the investors who own its shares, to the greater economy. With this in mind these meetings are typically well-organized and adhere to an established set of rules (such as Robert’s Rules of Order) and protocols that ensure that the meeting is conducted in a professional manner.

Boardrooms are designed to accommodate a smaller group of people, generally accommodating between 8 and 20 people around a large central table that facilitates face to face discussion and helps to create the feeling of unity. Quality furniture, as as technology such a video teleconferencing feature and modern audiovisual systems, can help create the atmosphere that facilitates productive collaboration.

Discussion boards are an effective method of engaging students in discussions that extend beyond the classroom, assisting students to understand how different see it here perspectives are a part of the classroom learning experience. To encourage participation from students instructors can begin with icebreakers and questions that get students acquainted with their classmates and their responses. For example, Speer at Wichita State asks her students to introduce themselves using a chain of emojis that describe their personalities and their interests. Students are asked to read the responses of their classmates and then reply. Summarizing a discussion by highlighting the most important ideas and themes motivates students to monitor the entire forum.