Originally found at Smart Company, by Andrew Yu.

Diversity may have been a buzzword in the business world for decades but the changes that bring diversity to life within organisations and industries have been slow to materialise.

For example, a recent report found that even in 2020, over three-quarters of Australian TV presenters are white. Like the world of TV broadcasting, many fields of work are still dominated by men, specifically STEM fields such as information technology and engineering.

According to data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, half of Australians work in an industry that is more heavily dominated by one gender.

Male-dominated industries include construction and mining, while education and healthcare remain traditionally female-dominated sectors.

But our research, by the University of Melbourne and universities in the US, has found workplaces that not only welcome diversity but also recognize and listen to the voices and perspectives of all its members can be smarter, more efficient, and more effective when faced with challenges.

Continue reading the original article at Smart Company.

Read the original research in Academy of Management Journal.

Read more about the original research in this AOM Insights Summary.

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