BUS 499 – Week 7 Discussion – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

BUS 499 – Week 7 Discussion – Diversity, Equity, andInclusion

Part1

This week you read the case study:

Making the Right Moves? The NFL and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Coach and Executive Hiring.

You are also completing a communication plan activity that will be part of your Week 9 assignment.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs can enhance organizations’ competitive position and brand perception. In the case study you are asked to assume the role of a consultant in helping to make the NFL’s commitments around DEI impactful and effectively communicating their resolve in enacting organizational change.

• How can the NFL foster a culture that actively supports and promotes the growth of minority and women coaches and executives within the organization? Support your response with specific examples from the case study.
• Discuss 2 communication strategies you would recommend to the NFL to discover unconscious bias and create buy-in for DEI efforts.
• How might you use this approach when implementing DEI principles for your chosen company?

Part2

Provide a substantive response to one of your classmate’s Post (Brandy Pratt).

Hello class,

To enhance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the National Football League (NFL), the Rooney Rule helps to establish and maintain their goal of inclusivity (NFL, 2). The organization can implement various initiatives to promote the development of minority and women coaches and executives within the NFL, actively supporting and encouraging their growth (NFL, 2).

Firstly, they can establish mentorship programs pairing minority and women coaches with seasoned veterans (NFL, 2). This can be structured to provide continuous guidance and support beyond the initial fellowship period through initiatives like the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship (NFL, 1).

In addition, leadership development programs can be introduced to prepare minority and women coaches for higher-level positions (NFL, 2). These programs should include training in leadership skills, game strategy, team management, and other essential areas. For example, the NFL could create a leadership academy for minority and women coaches, offering workshops, seminars, and on-the-job training for executive roles (NFL, 2).

Furthermore, comprehensive unconscious bias training sessions can be conducted for all levels of the organization (Hesselbein, 3). By partnering with DEI experts, the NFL can design and deliver these training sessions, incorporating real-life scenarios from the NFL to make the training relevant and impactful. Using case studies from the NFL, such as the Brian Flores lawsuit, can highlight how unconscious bias has historically affected hiring practices (DiMarco, 5).

Moreover, storytelling and personal testimonials can create empathy among employees. The NFL can organize town hall meetings, webinars, or video series where minority and women coaches share their journeys, challenges, and successes to build a more inclusive culture by highlighting the personal impact of DEI efforts (NFL, 2). This can be exemplified by featuring stories from successful minority coaches like Mike Tomlin and discussing their career paths and the obstacles they overcame to inspire others (NFL, 4).

Similarly, the NFL’s strategies can be adapted when implementing DEI principles for Under Armour, Inc. Mentorship programs can be established for minority and women employees, pairing them with senior leaders who can provide career guidance and support. Leadership development programs designed to prepare minority and women employees for executive roles can also be implemented (Under Armour, Inc., 6). Additionally, regular unconscious bias training sessions across all departments and events where minority and women employees can share their experiences can help create buy-in for DEI efforts at Under Armour, Inc. This approach can help create an inclusive culture that supports the growth of minority and women employees, thereby enhancing Under Armour’s competitive position and brand perception.

By implementing these strategies, both the NFL and Under Armour can create an inclusive culture that supports the growth of minority and women employees, enhancing their competitive position and brand perception.

Source List

1) NFL. No date. The NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

https://operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/players-legends/nfl-player-engagement/support-for-players-on-and-off-the-field/bill-walsh-diversity-coaching-fellowship/Links to an external site.

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2) NFL. No date. The Rooney Rule encourages hiring best practices to foster and provide opportunities to diverse leadership throughout the NFL..

https://operations.nfl.com/inside-football-ops/inclusion/the-rooney-rule/#:~:text=Following%20the%202022%20Spring%20League,coach%2C%20GM%20and%20coordinator%20positions.Links to an external site.

3) Frances Hesselbein. 2006. The Leader of the Future 2 : Visions, Strategies, and Practices for the New Era.

https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.libdatab.strayer.edu/eds/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=a15048b9-b770-4647-a980-469f558e369f%40redis&ppid=pp_C1&vid=0&format=EB

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4) Ross McCorkle. July 23, 2024. Mike Tomlin Remains At No.4 Spot In AP’s Top 5 NFL Head Coach Rankings.

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/07/mike-tomlin-remains-at-no-4-spot-in-aps-top-5-nfl-head-coach-rankings/#:~:text=But%20if%20you%20ask%20almost,season%20in%20Tomlin’s%2017%20seasons.Links to an external site.

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5) John DiMarco. January 2, 2023. Making the Right Moves? The NFL and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Coach and Executive Hiring.

https://sk-sagepub-com.libdatab.strayer.edu/cases/making-right-moves-nfl-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-hiring

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6) Under Armour, INC. No date. BRING YOUR GREATNESS TO LIFE.

https://careers.underarmour.com/content/Learning-and-Development/?locale=en_USLinks to an external site.

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