WIP: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Systems Design Viewpoint

This research WIP paper focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and their variations, which may include social justice. These concepts have evolved from a focus on compliance to a strategic-level effort by organizations, demonstrating their positive impact on overall performance. DEI are critical components of a healthy and successful organization. A systems design viewpoint of DEI recognizes that DEI is not just a program or initiative but is instead an ongoing process that must be integrated into all aspects of an organization, from its policies and practices to its culture and values. Integrating the topic into the curriculum has also received considerable attention from researchers, and it seems that it will also become a part of the ABET accreditation process. This paper will include a short literature review of the topic in academia and then focus on examining it from a systems design perspective. Applying this methodology, we will treat diversity and equity as a required “function” and identify appropriate “dependent” and “independent” inputs.