Exploring the influence of CEO and chief diversity officers' relational demography on organizational diversity management: An identity-based perspective
ISSN: 0025-1747
Article publication date: 18 March 2020
Issue publication date: 29 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on the relational demography literature and a social identity perspective, several research propositions in which the authors postulate that demographic characteristics (e.g. gender and race) of senior leaders will influence the implementation and effectiveness of diversity management practices were presented. Specifically, the authors focus on the Chief Executive Officer/Chief Diversity Officer (CEO/CDO) dyad and explore independent and joint effects of CEO and CDO majority–minority group status on workplace diversity outcomes, outlining key identity-based and relational moderators (e.g. value threat, relational identity and leader–member exchange) of these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
The literature on relational demography and leader–member exchange to develop propositions for future research was integrated.
Findings
This is a conceptual paper. There is no empirical data reported testing the propositions.
Research limitations/implications
The authors extended theory and research on relational demography by focusing on senior leaders in the organization and proposing that the influence of CEO and CDO demographic characteristics on the enactment of diversity practices may be contingent on key identity-based and relational processes.
Originality/value
The authors are not aware of any studies investigating how personal characteristics and relational processes relating to the CEO and CDO may influence the implementation and effectiveness of workplace diversity management practices. In a similar vein, the authors contribute to the research literatures on relational demography and social identity by extending the application of these theories to senior leaders in organizations and in relation to the work of CEOs and CDOs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The papers form part of special section “Re-orientations: moving from boxed-in to box-breaking research in diversity and inclusion”, guest edited by Mustafa Bilgehan Ozturk.Preparation of this manuscript is supported by SSHRC Insight Grant 435-2016-1227 and the James and Elizabeth Freeman Chair in Management at Bucknell University.
Citation
Ng, E.S., Sears, G.J. and Arnold, K.A. (2021), "Exploring the influence of CEO and chief diversity officers' relational demography on organizational diversity management: An identity-based perspective", Management Decision, Vol. 59 No. 11, pp. 2583-2605. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-01-2019-0135
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited