Disrupting Fairness: How DEI (Diversity Equity Inclusion) Backfire Challenges Meritocracy in Organizations

P. Cisila; Govind Gopi Verma

doi:10.2991/978-94-6463-714-4_6

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Disrupting Fairness: How DEI (Diversity Equity Inclusion) Backfire Challenges Meritocracy in Organizations

Authors

P. Cisila¹^{, *}, Govind Gopi Verma²

¹Department of Management, Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore, India

²Department of Management, Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore, India

^*Corresponding author. Email: p_cisila@cb.students.amrita.edu

Corresponding Author

P. Cisila

Available Online 5 May 2025.

DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-714-4_6 How to use a DOI?
Keywords: DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Backfire; Meritocracy; Qualitative
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the unintended negative consequences of DEI known as ‘DEI Backfire’ and its impact on meritocracy in creating fair workplace.

Methodology: The study employed qualitative research design conducted in 9 DEI implemented organizations of different industries, covered (n=9) participants, positioned at various managerial levels were undergone semi-structured interview were analysed using grounded theory approach and performed axial coding to conduct thematic analysis.

Findings: The findings present a conceptual framework that includes both intended and unintended consequences of DEI and proposal of possible strategies to resolve the issue of DEI backfire in creating a fair workplace.

Implications: Theoretical implications depict the formation of conceptual framework with limited factors, that might lack broad insights at an integrated level. Practical implications would arise depends upon the acceptance of resolution strategies in regards with nature and type of organization.

Originality: This paper presents how the negative consequences of DEI initiatives/DEI backfire impact meritocracy in a workplace and resolution strategies with the help of conceptual framework.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access: Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title: Proceedings of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, Equity and Digital Strategies (SEEDS 2024)
Series: Atlantis Highlights in Economics, Business and Management
Publication Date: 5 May 2025
ISBN: 978-94-6463-714-4
ISSN: 2667-1271
DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-714-4_6 How to use a DOI?
Open Access: Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

ris enw bib

TY  - CONF
AU  - P. Cisila
AU  - Govind Gopi Verma
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/05/05
TI  - Disrupting Fairness: How DEI (Diversity Equity Inclusion) Backfire Challenges Meritocracy in Organizations
BT  - Proceedings of Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, Equity and Digital Strategies (SEEDS 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 64
EP  - 86
SN  - 2667-1271
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-714-4_6
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-714-4_6
ID  - Cisila2025
ER  -

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