There is an interesting story in Forbes on how Diversity Helps Your Business--But Not The Way You Think by Katherine Phillips. Professor Phillips is at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She argues that the main benefit from diversity in a group does not necessarily come from the minority members bringing in a new perspective. The dynamics are much more subtle - and important:
I recently published research in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, with co-authors Katie Liljenquist of Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management and Margaret Neale of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, that found that members of a social majority are more likely to voice unique perspectives and critically review task-relevant information when there is more social diversity present than when there is not. Moreover, this is true even when the people who are "different" don't express any unique perspectives themselves. Our research suggests that the mere presence of social diversity makes people with independent points of view more willing to voice those points of view, and others more willing to listen.In other words, having a diverse group gives all members permission to speak their mind -- thereby avoiding "groupthink." As she notes:
We are more thoughtful, and we recognize and utilize more of the information that we have at our disposal, when diversity is present. That is diversity's true value.An important lesson for the I-Cubed Economy.
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