Zero plus one

The jury's in on diversity.  Here's the introduction to an article from Forbes:

 “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”

Diversity is critical for organization’s ability to innovate and adapt in a fast-changing environment. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs and most admired leaders will tell you the same thing. Diversity is essential to growth and prosperity of any company: diversity of perspectives, experiences, cultures, genders, and age. Why? Because diversity breeds innovation. And innovation breeds business success. Don’t believe me? Take a look:

• Forbes study has identified workforce diversity and inclusion as a key driver of internal innovation and business growth.
• Lu Hong and Scott Page showed that groups of diverse problem solvers can outperform groups of high-ability problem solvers.
• According to McKinsey, companies with diverse executive boards enjoy significantly higher earnings and returns on equity.
• According to Harvard Business School, multicultural networks promote creativity.

Last month I wrote about the lack of representation of people with disabilities on various panels examining the future of Nova Scotia.  This month I've been looking at a couple of other organizations:

The Waterfront Development Corporation gets included for its bungled handling of accessible washrooms at the Stubborn Goat Beer Garden.  It's a textbook example of why diversity is an important characteristic of institutions.

The distinguished panel that wrote about the transition from secondary school to work or further education gets included for an astonishing omission of any people with disabilities or their advocates.  And for indirectly canceling a program that has had success for a dozen years.

I included Halifax City Council, Dalhousie's Board of Governors, and the Nova Scotia Legislature for comparison.

As the work of any of these organizations is measured, it's hard to get beyond the uniformity of the members.  You would be forgiven for being skeptical about whatever they might have to say.

DIRECTORS/COMMISSIONERS/ELECTED OFFICIALS
	Total Members	Gender		Race/Ethnic				With a disability
		Female	Male	White	Asian	African Canadian	Mi'kmaq	Yes	No
EngageNS *	14	4	10	12	0	1	1	0	14
OneNS	18	4	14	16	0	1	1	0	18
Ivany Commission	5	2	3	4	0	0	1	0	5
Halifax Partnership	23	15	8	20	2	1	0	0	23
HRM Council	17	4	13	17	0	0	0	0	17
Dalhousie Governors	27	15	12	24	0	3	0	0	27
NS Legislature	50	14	36	49	0	1	0	1	49
Waterfront Development Corporation	8	5	3	8	0	0	0	0	8
FROM SCHOOL TO SUCCESS: CLEARING THE PATH *	17	9	8	14	0	1	2	0	17
Total	179	72	107	164	2	8	5	1	178
Percent of Grand Total	100.0%	40.2%	59.8%	91.6%	1.1%	4.5%	2.8%	0.6%	99.4%
*From a list only	Corrections Welcome

Charles  Darwin said:

“Let it also be borne in mind how infinitely complex and close-fitting are the mutual relations of all organic beings to each other and to their physical conditions of life; and consequently what infinitely varied diversities of structure might be of use to each being under changing conditions of life.”

Your mother said:

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket!" 

Gus Reed