INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATIONS: A STUDY OF INCLUSIVE PLOICIES, PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORS IN A PAKISTANI CONTEXT

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a boost in diversity and inclusion management research but there is a long way to come up with more crystalized and well defined conceptualizations in this area. This thesis research explores how organizations become inclusive by identifying inclusive policies, practices and behaviors prevailed in inclusive organizations. It was also focused that why and how such programs were initiated by the management which made the diverse employees feel included in the organization. Managerial and employee perspective both were taken into account. Qualitative research design was followed to identify the underlying mechanisms of the understudy area. Thus, exploratory single case study analysis took place within a famous MNC of Pakistan. As a result, five key dimensions of inclusive policies and behaviors emerged i.e. top management’s commitment to inclusion, employee voice in decision making, access to information, enablement and safety. ‘Enablement’ and ‘safety’ being the distinctive features of this research. Additionally, three types of inclusive behaviours were identified which plays a major role in organizations to become inclusive i.e. respect, collaboration and motivation. It was also highlighted that social, cultural and contextual factors in which the organization is operating plays a vital role in designing inclusion management programs. Overall, this thesis enlightens the development of inclusive organizations in Pakistani context and paves path for future researchers in various ways.