The Inclusion Paradox: The Obama Era and the Transformation of Global Diversity (Paperback)

~ Andrés T. Tapia (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Andrés Tapia has become one of the foremost thought leaders in the area of workplace diversity. His unique perspectives on inclusion have shifted the paradigm on how leaders now think about diversity."

--John W. Rogers, Chairman and CEO, Ariel Investments


"Andrés Tapia brings a unique combination of personal and professional experience to the subjects of cultural diversity and inclusion. His insights and approach can help a company strive toward achieving an inclusive environment in which a richly diverse global workforce can thrive."

--Robert W. Lane, chairman, Deere & Company


"The Inclusion Paradox is a must-read for all who want to keep ahead of the forces of change. Andrés has focused his keen mind on the most critical issues that are creating global societal change today."

--Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media and Diversity Best Practices


"An insightful and thoughtful analysis by an insightful and thoughtful leader in the field. Andrés captures the essence of the challenges facing global institutions in the 21st century and offers a path to success and sustainability."

--Gilbert F. Casellas, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Dell. Inc. and former Chairman, U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Opportunity Commission


"Andrés Tapia has emerged as a rising star in business strategy. In The Inclusion Paradox, Tapia challenges us to call out our differences as a critical step to achieve inclusion. This book is a call to action. The megatrends are identified. The sustainable strategies are defined. The probing questions are outlined. Tapia equips the reader to lead change rather than be the victim of it. I recommend it to executives who are serious about being competitive by embracing and leveraging diversity."

--Gloria Castillo, President, Chicago United

Product Description

It turns out that the warm, let's-all-get-along connotations of inclusion are misleading. Achieving true inclusion is hard. Very hard. Harder than achieving awareness. Harder than achieving tolerance and sensitivity. Harder than diversity itself. In The Inclusion Paradox: The Obama Era and the Transformation of Global Diversity Andrés Tapia, Hewitt Associates' Chief Diversity Officer, reveals how in these times of unprecedented peril and opportunity, diversity's demographic tsunami is accelerating today's social, economic, and political tectonic shifts. In the book, he explores what is required to move into the next generation of diversity work in ways that get past the tired and clichéd approaches. He makes the case for making inclusion relevant for all, including the white male, and breaks ground by challenging the notion that the melting pot leads to inclusion. On the contrary, Tapia makes the case that "equality" often does not equal "same." The Inclusion Paradox also focuses on the cultural implications of the Obama Era in the United States and around the world. More than a political point in time, the Obama Era is a cultural marker that succinctly captures the various global trends converging at this time in history.
The Inclusion Paradox will enable readers to contribute strategically and practically to the urgent work of making diversity and inclusion relevant to business and organizational success around the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: Hewitt Associates; 1st edition (July 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615289444
• ISBN-13: 978-0615289441
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,284 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #39 in

  Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Consulting

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Comprehensive and Seminal Work on Diversity and Inclusion, September 9, 2009

By	Jonathan F. Malysiak "macafferty" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Andres Tapia's The Inclusion Paradox is an important addition to literature and research devoted to diversity inclusion in today's workplace. Tapia delves deep into the myths and misconceptions many have when it comes to better integrating minorities -- whether it be based on skin color, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled, etc --into the corporate environment. His argument is that it simply isn't enough to hire minorities. In order to fully integrate these minority employees into our corporate culture, we must find ways to make them feel more included in that culture and take special effort to identify and recognize these individual world views and biases.

Tapia presents his material in a compelling and always insightful way and the list of questions that round out each chapter gets the reader thinking about how he or she can improve the inclusion of these minorities into their own office environment.

This is a must-read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rethinking the Diversity Roadmap, January 2, 2010

By	Bruce Hutchison "Bruce Hutchison" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

How do you deal with diversity? Does your workplace require a different approach than everyday living? Should it? Andres Tapia spotlights the complexity of diverse cultural perspectives to reveal a new roadmap that will enlighten organizations and individuals from business to backyards.

While the implications for diversity are increasingly global in scope, "The Inclusion Paradox" addresses this reality, but also guides the reader on a practical, personal level. Diversity, which Tapia states is the mix, and inclusion, which is making the mix work, both have implications that impact daily relationships. How to constructively call out differences, and how to understand these differences to productively create new strengths, speaks to the heart of the new cross cultural competencies needed now by individuals, organizations, and nations.

Moving beyond best practices to rethink unspoken rules, rethink race, gender, generational, and sexual orientation differences, rethink religious and disability barriers ... all have extraordinary implications for those willing to move beyond judging to valuing variation from familiar norms.

Resistance to change is reality, and yet as Tapia states by simply moving from, "I tolerate your differences" to "I need your differences", we are beginning an inspiring new era of unity of purpose and promise.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing and relevant approach to inclusion and diversity work, November 3, 2009

By	Guillermo Gutierrez "G" (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Inclusion Paradox: The Obama Era and the Transformation of Global Diversity (Kindle Edition)

Andres Tapia is not only a great story teller but an intelligent and experienced professional. In this book, he draws meaning from the challenges and opportunities individuals, teams, organizations and communities are facing in light of the changing global landscape. His insights on how differences make a different in the workplace, the marketplace and the world in general are enlightning.

I recommend this book to all professionals, managers and human resources teams. It will help you understand the context in which we are operating today and identify, proactively, new approaches and solutions to drive effectiveness in your organization, as well as improve individual performance and productivity.

Guillermo Gutierrez
OD & Global Diversity
Kohler Company