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Managers’ and employees’perception of diversity and inclusion in the high-tech sector : A qualitative investigation
Jansen, S. (2025) Managers’ and employees’perception of diversity and inclusion in the high-tech sector : A qualitative investigation.
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| Abstract: | This thesis explores how Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) practices are perceived to influence job flourishing among employees and managers in a Dutch high-tech manufacturing organization. Drawing on Social Identity Theory (SIT) and the Input–Process–Output (IPO) framework, this study investigates how identity-based characteristics influence individual-level perceptions and experiences of inclusion. The findings reveal that perceptions of inclusion differ substantially between dominant group members, in this context, the Dutch male participants, and those identifying with minority groups. While dominant group members perceive the organizational culture as inclusive, individuals who do not identify with the dominant group perceive barriers to recognition, opportunities, and belonging. In contrast to assumptions in existing literature, hierarchical status did not appear to influence D&I perceptions as strongly as identity-based factors, particularly gender. The findings indicate that D&I outcomes are primarily shaped by informal processes and interpersonal interactions, rather than formal policies. The data structure, developed using the Gioia methodology, highlights how limited organizational support and a general resistance to D&I, particularly among the Management Team, limit inclusion and restrict job flourishing for the minority groups. These insights emphasize the need for high-tech organizations to move beyond surface-level representation and install meaningful inclusion practices aimed at creating equal opportunities for individuals to flourish. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Programme: | Business Administration MSc (60644) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107058 |
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