The systemic approach to the encouragement of innovativeness through employee diversity management

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the problem of employee diversity management (EDM) as a complex problem; the dialectical system's approach to EDM; the impact of EDM on competitive advantage; the innovativeness of employees as an outcome of EDM; and authors support to EDM by combining dialectical system's approach with de Bono's six thinking hats.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper undertakes a critical literature review and a methodical evaluation of current knowledge on topics related directly and indirectly to EDM and systems theory.

Findings

Findings suggest that the organizations that manage employee diversity effectively may gain a competitive advantage. An important outcome of a good EDM is increased innovativeness of employees. Effective EDM depends on system's thinking essentially. Hence, the dialectical system approach to EDM is very suitable as it supports interdisciplinary cooperation very well. Our new combination of the dialectical system's approach with De Bono's six thinking hats contributes to the effectiveness of the EDM, cases say.

Practical implications

The application of the dialectical system's approach to the EDM as well as the combination of this approach with De Bono's six thinking hats result in greater effectiveness of EDM and hence, in increased competitive advantage of the organization.

Originality/value

Application of the dialectical systems theory to EDM results in new support to effective EDM's and to its theoretical essence from the viewpoint of company efficiency.

Citation

Treven, S. and Mulej, M. (2007), "The systemic approach to the encouragement of innovativeness through employee diversity management", Kybernetes, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 144-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920710741198