Title: Beyond relational diversity: managing workplace diversity and team composition with Indian psycho-philosophy

Authors: Nidhi Maheshwari

Addresses: Asia Pacific Institute of Management, 3 & 4 Institutional Area, Jasola, Opp. Sarita Vihar, New Delhi – 110025, India

Abstract: To understand the workplace diversity with the help of deep level diversity attributes, this paper proposed that Indian psycho-philosophy has huge potential to provide a strong foundation to manage diversity at the workplace. On the basis of Guna doctrine from Indian psycho-philosophy, the present paper identified different types of personalities to manage a diverse workforce. The author first reviewed the existing literature and explored the overt and covert dimensions of diversity. Thereafter, Indian Darshan was explored on how the personality at the deeper level can be defined. In that context, Guna Personality was identified to understand diversity at the deep level. Further, to facilitate the managers to practically use this Indian psychoanalytical approach at the workplace, different psychological team roles are identified to mange team composition at the workplace. The holistic view of personality, unlike in the previous conceptualisation wherein physiological parameters were dominated, is emphasised in this paper.

Keywords: diversity; team composition; Triguna personality; psychological team roles; surface-level and deep-level diversity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2019.098402

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2019 Vol.12 No.1, pp.41 - 54

Received: 07 May 2018
Accepted: 24 Sep 2018
Published online: 18 Mar 2019 *

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