Optimizing Diversity on Teams

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Optimizing Diversity on Teams

This course is part of Culture-Driven Team Building Specialization

Instructors: Dr. Aviva Legatt

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

183 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

94%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

183 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

94%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

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Shareable certificate

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Assessments

4 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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This course is part of the Culture-Driven Team Building Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

By drawing on social science perspectives, this course enables you to learn what diversity is, and how to use it to maximize team performance, innovation and creativity. You also learn how to draw out the collective wisdom of diverse teams, handle conflict and establish common ground rules through real-world cases and peer-to-peer discussions. In addition, you discover how to overcome common biases faced in diverse teams. Systems of power, reward and rhetoric are discussed to help you create prosperous teams where differences flourish.

This module is all about the hidden barriers that can prevent you from promoting and leveraging the benefits of diversity on your team. We will learn specific strategies to get buy-in for diversity initiatives. We will learn about the biases that can harm these efforts, and discuss effective means of identifying and reducing these biases. Towards the end of the module, you will hear from two diversity experts. The first is Arjun Shankar, Co-Director of the Center for Curiosity at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, he has studied cultural barriers to inclusion in organizations and offers insights based on his research. The second expert is Stanford Thompson, Executive Director of the music education non-profit, Play On, Philly! Stanford advises symphony orchestras nationally on how to improve their diversity, and will offer practical advice on making any team more inclusive. By the end of the module, you will be better positioned to develop diversity initiatives that go beyond compliance and make inclusion a core strength of your team.

What's included

8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 54 minutes

Intro of Derek Newberry1 minute
The Hidden Diversity Problem3 minutes
Promoting Diversity4 minutes
Managing Rewards Systems4 minutes
Managing Personal Bias4 minutes
Being A Good Ally5 minutes
Interview with Arjun Shankar10 minutes
Interview with Stanford Thompson22 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

How to Manage Cultural Differences in Global Teams (“4 minute read”)10 minutes
Fostering Innovation Through a Diverse Workforce10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 1 Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Module 1 Assignment60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Module 1 Forum Prompts10 minutes

In the first module, you will learn the essentials of why diversity matters for teams, and why it can be difficult to build diverse teams. We will overview basic concepts of difference, bias, and conflict that will serve as a foundation for later modules.

What's included

14 videos4 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

14 videosTotal 59 minutes

Personal Introduction2 minutes
Diversity Matters and So Do Our Biases5 minutes
Intro of Torian Richardson4 minutes
Diversity and Inclusion Issues on International Teams3 minutes
Strategies for Adapting to a New Team Culture3 minutes
Cases of Strategic Focus on Diversity and Inclusion3 minutes
Addressing a Critical Situation of Bias2 minutes
Cultivating the Right Mindset to Manage Diversity and Inclusion Issues3 minutes
Interview with Andrés Castro Samayoa4 minutes
Interview with Ann Tiao14 minutes
Intro of Harvey Floyd II1 minute
Strategies for Reducing Bias6 minutes
Questions that Help You Create a Diverse and Inclusive Team5 minutes
Frameworks for Managing Difficult Conversations5 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Social Identity Theory10 minutes
Examples of Microaggressions10 minutes
Andrés Castro Samayoa Biography10 minutes
Harvey Floyd II Biography10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 2 Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Module 2 peer-review60 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Module 2 Forum Prompts10 minutes

In this module, we will move from promoting diversity to looking at the conflicts that can arise in diverse work environments. You will learn about why conflicts occur and how you can develop norms to address them. By the end of the module, you will be able to have better conversations related to diversity issues in the workplace.

What's included

8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 55 minutes

M3 Overview3 minutes
Why Conflicts Occur5 minutes
Conflict Types and Origins5 minutes
Addressing Representational Gaps6 minutes
Conflict Resolution Strategies6 minutes
Addressing Oppression-Based Conflict6 minutes
Interview with Marybeth Gasman23 minutes
M3 Recap2 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

5 Keys To Dealing with Workplace Conflict by Mike Myatt (3 pages)10 minutes
Representational Gaps, Information Processing and Conflict in Functionally Diverse Teams (14 pages)10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 3 Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Module 3 peer-review120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Module 3 Forum Prompts10 minutes

In this module, you will get a practical perspective on managing diversity in teams by looking at real life cases of companies creating a more inclusive workplace. Looking at the experience of Google, Nike and UnitedHealthcare, you will see how major businesses are applying specific strategies and techniques for overcoming barriers to inclusion.

What's included

9 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

9 videosTotal 50 minutes

M4_ Intro to Case Study Module4 minutes
High Performance on Diverse Teams3 minutes
Creating Inclusion Through Participation5 minutes
Nike Introduction3 minutes
Nike Goals3 minutes
Nike Roles3 minutes
Nike Norms3 minutes
Interview with Jacqui Barton24 minutes
M4 Recap1 minute

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Nike's recent diversity challenge10 minutes
Global Leadership: Working Across Borders10 minutes
Additional Reading: 10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Module 4 Quiz30 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Module 4 Assignment120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Nike Norms10 minutes

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(33 ratings)

Dr. Aviva Legatt

University of Pennsylvania

3 Courses38,442 learners

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

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Reviewed on Oct 15, 2022

I learned so much, and I had a better understanding of tactics to diversify companies and reach out to different groups that are not currently represented.I really loved this course.

Reviewed on Dec 30, 2024

Very appropriate for those with some or a bit of knowledge. Great educational info

Reviewed on Aug 30, 2020

Course will be very useful in optimally managing diverse teams

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