Die einführung von diversity management in Geutschen organisationen: Eine neoinstitutionalistische perspektive

Abstract

The paper aims to explore why and how diversity management has become a topic for German organizations. Hence using neo-institutionalism as a theoretical background, the adoption of diversity management is seen as an institutionalization process. A sociology of knowledge approach to discourse based on a qualitative theory-driven content analysis of interviews with corporate diversity experts is used to examine the way organizational actors (re-)construct the reasons for implementing this management concept. The empirical findings show that the institutionalization of diversity management is not so much the result of efficiency considerations, but rather an attempt to fulfil expectations from the organizational environment in order to gain legitimacy. © Rainer Hampp Verlag.