Does Workplace Diversity Matter? A Survey Of Empirical Studies On Diversity And Firm Performance, 2000-09

Abstract

This study seeks to assess the state-of-the-art on the workplace diversity – firm performance relationship. Based on a review of academic research on workplace diversity and firm performance published in nine leading journals in the field of management during the period 2000-2009, it addresses the following research questions: a. How are diversity and firm performance constructs defined? b. What are the findings of research linking workplace diversity and firm performance? c. What factors mediate and/or moderate the diversity-performance relationship? Based on the findings of extant research, we develop a model to explain and interpret the diversity – firm performance relationship, and understand its implications.