Understanding “Diversity in Organizations” Paradigmatically and Methodologically

This paper is part of a larger dissertation project named: A Production of Diversity: Appearances, Ideas, Interests, Actions, Contradictions and Praxis. In this dissertation project, which is planned to be completed by the first half of 2006, I have attempted to describe, understand and analyse a process of diversity production at a large manufacturing company, which is located in Sweden and owned by a large American company (for the reason of confidentiality the name of the studied company, which is a large, technical-oriented company, has been changed and some of the information is modified, while another cannot be offered because it would expose the company. The studied manufacturing company will from now be called Diversico). My ambition with this paper is to call attention to different paradigmatical and methodological ways of understanding and studying “diversity in organizations”. A starting-point for my discussion here is an assumption that researchers, by exploring different social phenomena (including “diversity in organizations”), bring their different sets of assumptions to what the studied phenomenon is (or could be) but also at the same time make assumptions on what organizations are (or could be). In other words, researchers, by studying “diversity in organizations” (as well as other social phenomena) construct ideas of diversity by positioning this phenomenon differently, asking different questions or designing research projects differently. In that sense I try to actively engage in both showing some benefits and limits in the present literature and searching for new theoretical and methodological possibilities. In that sense, I give some empirical illustrations inspired by one of these other possibilities. More concretely, I show how my study fulfils images of diversity as actively produced and positioned significant issues, and as domination of particular sectional interests. Furthermore I give illustrations of universalization and naturalization of some aspects of diversity, as identified in the studied process of diversity production at the manufacturing company.Diversity, Critical Theory, Social-Historical Context and Domination

Diversity and its management as a dialectical process: Encountering Sweden and the U.S.

This article approaches diversity and its management from a dialectical, socio-historical perspective. Two social-historical contexts are examined: the U.S., where social productions of ideas of diversity (management) first appeared; and Sweden, where some original ideas about diversity and its management relocated and were partly reinterpreted, creating new ideas about diversity. The article shows linkages between the development of the ideas and praxes of diversity in these contexts, drawing attention to different actors and milieus, and their often-conflicting ideas and interests, as well as unequal power relations. Like many other social phenomena, diversity and its management are mediated by socio-historical relationships that reflect their ongoing productions. Consequently these productions are not fixed realities immune to human intervention and change.Diversity Diversity management Dialectic Social construction Context Contradiction Praxis

Mångfaldens mångfald - olika sätt att se på och leda olikheter

Att leda olikheter - den amerikanska termen management diversity har blivit en nödvändighet för svenska organisationer. Bakgrunden kan sökas dels i en ökad heterogenitet hos svensk arbetsmarknad, dels i näringslivets internationalisering. Förutom nödvändigheten att ändra rekryteringspraxis finns det en stor potential att ta vara på olika kompetenser i en alltmer globaliserad värld. Utgående från svensk och amerikansk mångfaldsforskning utvecklas ett strategiperspektiv, vilket är vårt analysverktyg vid studier av organisationers mångfaldsarbete. Via kortare fallstudier identifieras och beskrivs fyra typer av mångfaldsarbete; nämligen med innebörd internationalisering, spegling av annorlunda Sverige, samhällsengagemang och sociala strategier. Slutligen diskuteras om det vi identifierat kan betecknas som uthålliga mångfaldsstrategier. Vår studie tyder på detta och den mångfald mångfaldsstrategier vi beskrivit tolkar vi dels att mångfaldsarbetet är nära kopplat till respektive organisations förutsättningar, dels att man är inne i ett skede av lärande

Nu är det dags för fotboll 2.0 : En studie om hur fotbollsklubbar i Allsvenskan arbetar med relationsmarknadsföring med hjälp av sociala medier.

Title: Nu är det dags för fotboll 2.0 I En studie om hur fotbollsklubbar i allsvenskan arbetar med relationsmarknadsföring med hjälp av sociala medier. Short explanation of the title We chose the title “Nu är det dags for fotboll2.0”because it relates to the social habits that occurs between individuals within society today. People are more interactive online than before due to the development of Web 2,0 and social medias. Main purpose The main purpose of this thesis is to describe how professional football clubs use social media tools to establish, maintain and develop relationships with costumers within the field of sports. Methodology The thesis is based on a qualitative research with an inductive approach to make it possible to create a depth within the research. In addition, we have a hermeneutic perspective to build an understanding for the hard labour that is put in action by workers in the football clubs only for the reasons of making relationships possible and strengthening bonds by using social media tools. We have gathered the empirical information trough interviews with main leaders within chosen organizations that use social media tools on an every day basis. Also, the theoretical framework is assembled on primary and secondary sources such as scientifically articles, literature, and well-known websites that are somehow connected to social media and relationship management. Conclusion The clubs work with relationship marketing through social media by creating a gravitational pull to their organisations through providing a constant flow of information. The organisations use social media information channels, but also as web-based meeting places encouraging discussions and feedback. Social media is used as a tool for creating a unified experience around the organisations and its product

Understanding 'Diversity in Organizations' Paradigmatically and Methodologically

This paper is part of a larger dissertation project named: A Production of Diversity: Appearances, Ideas, Interests, Actions, Contradictions and Praxis. In this dissertation project, which is planned to be completed by the first half of 2006, I have attempted to describe, understand and analyse a process of diversity production at a large manufacturing company, which is located in Sweden and owned by a large American company (for the reason of confidentiality the name of the studied company, which is a large, technical-oriented company, has been changed and some of the information is modified, while another cannot be offered because it would expose the company. The studied manufacturing company will from now be called Diversico). My ambition with this paper is to call attention to different paradigmatical and methodological ways of understanding and studying diversity in organizations. A starting-point for my discussion here is an assumption that researchers, by exploring different social phenomena (including diversity in organizations), bring their different sets of assumptions to what the studied phenomenon is (or could be) but also at the same time make assumptions on what organizations are (or could be). In other words, researchers, by studying diversity in organizations (as well as other social phenomena) construct ideas of diversity by positioning this phenomenon differently, asking different questions or designing research projects differently. In that sense I try to actively engage in both showing some benefits and limits in the present literature and searching for new theoretical and methodological possibilities. In that sense, I give some empirical illustrations inspired by one of these other possibilities. More concretely, I show how my study fulfils images of diversity as actively produced and positioned significant issues, and as domination of particular sectional interests. Furthermore I give illustrations of universalization and naturalization of some aspects of diversity, as identified in the studied process of diversity production at the manufacturing company

Association between night-time surgery and occurrence of intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications

Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8: 00 AM and 7: 59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8: 00 PM and 7: 59 AM. Results: Of 9861 included patients, 555 (5.6%) underwent surgery during night-time. The proportion of patients who developed intraoperative AEs was higher during night-time surgery in unmatched (43.6% vs 34.1%; P<0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (43.7% vs 36.8%; P = 0.029). PPCs also occurred more often in patients who underwent night-time surgery (14% vs 10%; P = 0.004) in an unmatched cohort analysis, although not in a propensity-matched analysis (13.8% vs 11.8%; P = 0.39). In a multivariable regression model, including patient characteristics and types of surgery and anaesthesia, night-time surgery was independently associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative AEs (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.90; P = 0.01), but not with a higher incidence of PPCs (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.89-1.90; P = 0.15). Conclusions: Intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients undergoing night-time surgery. Imbalances in patients' clinical characteristics, types of surgery, and intraoperative management at night-time partially explained the higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but not the higher incidence of adverse events

Association between night-time surgery and occurrence of intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications

Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs)