IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v189y2024i3d10.1007_s10551-023-05348-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Practicing Dialogue: How an Organization can Facilitate Diverse Collaborative Action

Author

Listed:
  • Kathryn L. Heinze

    (University of Michigan, 830 North University)

  • Sara B. Soderstrom

    (Organizational Studies and Program in the Environment, University of Michigan)

Abstract

In addressing social issues, organizations have a responsibility to promote diverse participation, yet often struggle to harness the benefits of racial and gender diversity. Using a community-based participatory research design, with data collected over an 18 month field study, we examined how a social change organization, FoodLab, facilitated diverse collaboration. FoodLab aimed to grow a good food economy in Detroit, Michigan, through working with their members, local food entrepreneurs. We found that recurrent episodes of practicing dialogue catalyzed collaborative action around multiple issues, including shared kitchens, licensing, and membership. Practicing dialogue included intentional convening, participatory devices, and collective language. While leaders set up the initial procedures and rules, leaders and members, together, enacted these structures. Through high quality interactions, participants developed additional resources, knowledge, motivation, and relationships. Across episodes of practicing dialogue, traces of high quality interactions supported sustained effort around social issues. Our findings demonstrate the dynamic aspects of organizational structure and individual action in working towards diverse collaborative action.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathryn L. Heinze & Sara B. Soderstrom, 2024. "Practicing Dialogue: How an Organization can Facilitate Diverse Collaborative Action," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(3), pages 453-478, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:189:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-023-05348-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-023-05348-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-023-05348-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-023-05348-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hans Dijk & Marloes Engen & Jaap Paauwe, 2012. "Reframing the Business Case for Diversity: A Values and Virtues Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 111(1), pages 73-84, November.
    2. Collier, Jane, 1998. "Theorising the Ethical Organization," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(4), pages 621-654, October.
    3. Steven Dunphy, 2004. "Demonstrating the Value of Diversity for Improved Decision Making: The “Wuzzle-Puzzle” Exercise," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 325-331, September.
    4. Ruth Sessler Bernstein & Morgan Bulger & Paul Salipante & Judith Y. Weisinger, 2020. "From Diversity to Inclusion to Equity: A Theory of Generative Interactions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 395-410, December.
    5. Ruthanne Huising, 2014. "The Erosion of Expert Control Through Censure Episodes," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(6), pages 1633-1661, December.
    6. E. Buttner & Kevin Lowe & Lenora Billings-Harris, 2012. "An Empirical Test of Diversity Climate Dimensionality and Relative Effects on Employee of Color Outcomes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(3), pages 247-258, October.
    7. Martha S. Feldman & Wanda J. Orlikowski, 2011. "Theorizing Practice and Practicing Theory," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(5), pages 1240-1253, October.
    8. Alberto Alesina & Eliana La Ferrara, 2003. "Ethnic Diversity and Economic Performance," Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers 2028, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research.
    9. Amy Verbos & Joseph Gerard & Paul Forshey & Charles Harding & Janice Miller, 2007. "The Positive Ethical Organization: Enacting a Living Code of Ethics and Ethical Organizational Identity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 76(1), pages 17-33, November.
    10. Corinne Post & Daniel Muzio & Riikka Sarala & Liqun Wei & Dries Faems, 2021. "Theorizing Diversity in Management Studies: New Perspectives and Future Directions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(8), pages 2003-2023, December.
    11. Tanja Rabl & María Carmen Triana & Seo-Young Byun & Laura Bosch, 2020. "Diversity Management Efforts as an Ethical Responsibility: How Employees’ Perceptions of an Organizational Integration and Learning Approach to Diversity Affect Employee Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(3), pages 531-550, January.
    12. Michelle Greenwood & R. Edward Freeman, 2018. "Deepening Ethical Analysis in Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(1), pages 1-4, January.
    13. Kathryn L. Heinze & Klaus Weber, 2016. "Toward Organizational Pluralism: Institutional Intrapreneurship in Integrative Medicine," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 157-172, February.
    14. Denise Lewin Loyd & Cynthia S. Wang & Katherine W. Phillips & Robert B. Lount, 2013. "Social Category Diversity Promotes Premeeting Elaboration: The Role of Relationship Focus," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 757-772, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Marcinko, Andrew J. & Taylor, Chelsey, 2021. "Employee reactions to positive action policies in the United Kingdom: Does the organization’s justification matter?," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    2. Jillian Chown, 2020. "Financial Incentives and Professionals’ Work Tasks: The Moderating Effects of Jurisdictional Dominance and Prominence," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 887-908, July.
    3. Dieu Hack-Polay & Mahfuzur Rahman & Matthijs Bal, 2023. "Beyond Cultural Instrumentality: Exploring the Concept of Total Diaspora Cultural Capital for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Mehta, Nikhil & Mehta, Anju & Hassan, Yusuf & Buttner, Holly & RoyChowdhury, Sanchita, 2021. "Choices in CDO appointment and firm performance: Moving towards a Stakeholder-based approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 233-251.
    5. Melissa Mazmanian & Christine M. Beckman, 2018. "“Making” Your Numbers: Engendering Organizational Control Through a Ritual of Quantification," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 357-379, June.
    6. Eline Jammaers, 2023. "Theorizing Discursive Resistance to Organizational Ethics of Care Through a Multi-stakeholder Perspective on Disability Inclusion Practices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 333-345, March.
    7. Owen, Ann L. & Temesvary, Judit, 2018. "The performance effects of gender diversity on bank boards," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 50-63.
    8. Tommaso Colussi & Ingo E. Isphording & Nico Pestel, 2021. "Minority Salience and Political Extremism," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 13(3), pages 237-271, July.
    9. Klaus Desmet & Ignacio Ortuño-Ortín & Romain Wacziarg, 2009. "The political economy of ethnolinguistic cleavages," Working Papers 2009-17, Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados (IMDEA) Ciencias Sociales.
    10. Indra de Soysa & Synøve Almås, 2019. "Does Ethnolinguistic Diversity Preclude Good Governance? A Comparative Study with Alternative Data, 1990‐2015," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(4), pages 604-636, November.
    11. Roberta Dessì & Salvatore Piccolo, 2008. "Two is Company, N is a Crowd? Merchant Guilds and Social Capital," CSEF Working Papers 202, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy, revised 12 Jul 2009.
    12. Giada Baldessarelli & Nathalie Lazaric & Michele Pezzoni, 2022. "Organizational routines: Evolution in the research landscape of two core communities," Post-Print halshs-03718851, HAL.
    13. Leonardo Becchetti & Pierluigi Conzo & Alessandro Romeo, 2014. "Violence, trust, and trustworthiness: evidence from a Nairobi slum," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 66(1), pages 283-305, January.
    14. Elisabeth R. Gerber & Clark C. Gibson, 2009. "Balancing Regionalism and Localism: How Institutions and Incentives Shape American Transportation Policy," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(3), pages 633-648, July.
    15. Nikolaj A. Harmon, 2010. "The End of the European Welfare States? Migration, Ethnic Diversity and Public Goods," Working Papers 1277, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    16. Antonio Ciccone & Marek Jarociński, 2010. "Determinants of Economic Growth: Will Data Tell?," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(4), pages 222-246, October.
    17. Malgorzata Wachowska & Magdalena Homa, 2020. "The Role of Ethnic Diversity in Stimulating Innovation Processes: Comparative Analysis of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 1157-1176.
    18. Gerring, John & Thacker, Strom C. & Lu, Yuan & Huang, Wei, 2015. "Does Diversity Impair Human Development? A Multi-Level Test of the Diversity Debit Hypothesis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 166-188.
    19. Alberto Alesina & Ekaterina Zhuravskaya, 2011. "Segregation and the Quality of Government in a Cross Section of Countries," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(5), pages 1872-1911, August.
    20. Thomas Köllen & Andri Koch & Andreas Hack, 2020. "Nationalism at Work: Introducing the “Nationality-Based Organizational Climate Inventory” and Assessing Its Impact on the Turnover Intention of Foreign Employees," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 97-122, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:189:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-023-05348-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.