Diversity and Inclusion in the Board Room
Diversity and inclusion are becoming more and more commonplace in boardrooms, executive suites, and C-suites across the globe. They’ve gone from being merely phrases or promises to become reality.
While these discussions are focused on the company, it’s important to remember that the decisions made in these meetings affect everyone involved from the employees of the organization, to the investors who own its shares, to the greater economy. These meetings are extremely structured, and follow certain rules and protocols (such as Robert’s Rules of Order).
Boardrooms are designed to accommodate smaller groups of people. They typically accommodate 8 to 20 people at a large table, which allows for face-to-face conversations and promotes unity. The best furniture and equipment, such as advanced audiovisual systems and teleconferencing capabilities can help create the necessary atmosphere for productive collaboration.
Discussion boards are a great method to engage students and help them understand the relationship between classroom instruction and outside perspectives. Instructors can begin by asking icebreakers to help students become familiar with the reactions of their classmates. Speer at Wichita State, asks her students to create an emoji chain to describe their personality and their interests. Students then read and respond to their peers‘ answers. The process of analyzing a discussion by highlighting important themes and ideas encourages students to follow the entire forum.