Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Reach Us
    • Career
    Subscribe Newsletter
    HR KathaHR Katha
    • Exclusive
      • Exclusive Features
      • Research
      • Point Of View
      • Case In Point
      • Dialogue
      • Movement
      • Profile
      • Beyond Work
      • Rising Star
      • By Invitation
    • News
      • Global HR News
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Diversity
      • Events
      • Gen Y
      • Hiring & Firing
      • HR & Labour Laws
      • Learning & Development
      • Merger & Acquisition
      • Performance Management & Productivity
      • Talent Management
      • Tools & Technology
      • Work-Life Balance
    • Special
      • Cover Story
      • Editorial
      • HR Forecast 2024
      • HR Forecast 2023
      • HR Forecast 2022
      • HR Forecast 2021
      • HR Forecast 2020
      • HR Forecast 2019
      • New Age Learning
      • Coaching and Training
      • Learn-Engage-Transform
    • Magazine
    • Reports
      • Whitepaper
        • HR Forecast 2024 e-mag
        • Future-proofing Manufacturing Through Digital Transformation
        • Employee Healthcare & Wellness Benefits: A Guide for Indian MSMEs
        • Build a Future Ready Organisation For The Road Ahead
        • Employee Experience Strategy
        • HRKatha 2019 Forecast
        • Decoding and Driving Employee Engagement
        • One Platform, Infinite Possibilities
      • Survey Reports
        • Happiness at Work
        • Upskilling for Jobs of the Future
        • The Labour Code 2020
    • Conferences
      • Rising Star Leadership Awards
      • HRKatha Futurecast
      • Automation.NXT
      • The Great HR Debate
    • HR Jobs
    WhatsApp LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram
    HR KathaHR Katha
    Home»Culture»How IBM looks at diversity and inclusion
    Culture

    How IBM looks at diversity and inclusion

    mmBy Prajjal Saha | HRKathaMarch 22, 20185 Mins Read11199 Views
    Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    Share
    LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

    Inclusivity is an innate part of IBM’s organisational culture and is made possible by focussed groups led by diversity champions across functions.

    At a time when diversity was not even a much talked about subject in the workplace, as it is now, IBM had realised it was a concern that needed to be addressed. Therefore, it looked at a few critical aspects of diversity, such as ways to bring in a more diverse group of people into the organisation, getting a buy-in from different communities, establishing itself as an employer of choice for diverse groups and the external agencies it needs to partner with, for the purpose.

    To address these and to work ahead towards a more inclusive workforce, IBM commissioned eight task forces globally. This was back in 1995. It had already hired its first women and black employees in 1899 and the first disabled employee in 1914!

    The task forces were commissioned for—Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders (LGBT), Men, Native Americans, People with Disabilities, and Women. They were asked to look at

    IBM through the lens of their group and answer the following questions:
    • What is required for your group to feel welcomed and valued at IBM?
    • What can IBM, in partnership with your group, do to maximise your productivity?
    • What courses of action can IBM take to influence the buying decisions of your group?
    • Which external organisations, that address the interests of your constituency, should IBM have a relationship with?

    Today, IBM is at a stage where its workforce is diverse enough to address issues, such as conscious biases in the workplace, than simply struggling to get the workforce balanced. Roopa Wilson, diversity & inclusion leader, IBM India/South Asia, shares that the discussions at IBM have shifted from bringing in work–life balance to ensuring strategic work–life integration.

    She says, “The D&I journey of IBM began in the 20th century, with a belief that every employee has to be valued and there should be no discrimination of any sort. By the late 1900s the focus had progressed towards eliminating any kind of workplace barriers and providing an enabling environment to people.”

    Be it allowing flexible work hours for supporting work–life balance for women or looking at specific job roles that can help bring in people from diverse backgrounds and communities into the organisation, IBM made strategic efforts to build a diverse workforce.

    Roopa Wilson

    The D&I journey of IBM began in the 20th century, with a belief that every employee has to be valued and there should be no discrimination of any sort. By the late 1900s the focus had progressed towards eliminating any kind of workplace barriers and providing an enabling environment to people.

    Wilson believes that if businesses essentially focus on inclusivity, diversity will simply fall into place. “It’s not just about building an infrastructure or having the right kind of policies, but about questioning the status quo,” she says.

    Inclusivity is an innate part of the organisational culture and that is possible through focussed groups led by diversity champions across functions. With that it established diversity network groups, which are actually volunteer employee groups that come together with the goal of enhancing the organisation’s success through meeting, teaming, networking, mentoring and coaching. Now also termed as the ‘business resource groups’, these are led by diversity champions across functions, who become the face and voice of the diversity agenda.

    The business resource groups are talented groups of diverse IBM professionals, whose mission is to engage IBM’s diversity network groups, constituencies and communities in a transformation process that enables them to better support its people, clients and business. The groups consist of employees who voluntarily come together with the ultimate goal of enhancing the success of the business and people, by helping their fellow IBMers succeed.

    Wilson shares that such focussed efforts and dedicated initiatives have enabled the organisation to bring in a cultural transformation. One such initiative is, Tanmatra, IBM’s cross-industry women’s leadership development programme conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B). The programme is designed for high-potential women from industries including IT, banking, pharma and manufacturing.

    In addition, it also conducted a consortium to support the transgender community last year, helping them enter mainstream jobs. Termed ‘Project Vayati’, it was instrumental in providing a thought- leading voice to the topic via the formation of a consortium of 25+ companies on LGBT and inclusion at workplaces. Wilson shares, “Project Vayati was an outcome of the IBM-led consortium focused on empowerment and employment of the marginalised transgender community in the formal job sector.”

    With dedicated resources, focussed efforts and the belief that a diverse supplier base is integral to the Company’s profitability and strategic objectives, IBM has not only been able to keep its workforce significantly diverse but has also been acknowledged for the same at various forums. Most recently, it has been recognised as the ‘Best Employer for Persons with Disabilities’ by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt of India.

    IBM
    Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    mm
    Prajjal Saha | HRKatha

    Dr. Prajjal Saha, editor and publisher of HRKatha since 2015, leverages over 25 years of experience in business journalism, writing, and editing. He founded HRKatha to provide insightful analysis on the evolving workplace. With expertise spanning HR, marketing, distribution, and technology, Saha has a deep understanding of business dynamics. His authorship of the acclaimed Marketing White Book highlights his versatility beyond HR. A trusted voice across industries, his clear and thoughtful commentary has earned him a reputation for thought leadership, making him a reliable source of knowledge and insights for professionals navigating the complexities of the business world.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    five × one =

    Related Posts

    Manish Gupta elevated to India president and MD, Dell Technologies

    June 9, 2025

    IBM rehires after AI-driven layoffs backfire; sparks debate on automation limits

    May 22, 2025

    Has AI replaced HR workers at IBM?

    May 11, 2025

    NIIT Foundation enables 27,000+ job placements; 50% beneficiaries are women

    May 2, 2025

    QUICK HR INSIGHTS

    EDITOR'S PICKS

    How corporate culture change dies a thousand small deaths

    June 23, 2025

    The Great Displacement: How automation is reshaping India’s workforce

    June 20, 2025

    How corporate prejudices are strangling innovation in the workplace

    June 19, 2025

    Psychological safety: the new superpower in winning the talent war

    June 18, 2025
    Latest Post

    Hari Menon takes on GCHRO role at Eternis Fine Chemicals

    Movement June 24, 2025

    Hari Menon has taken on the role of global chief human resources officer (GCHRO) at…

    IndiGo employee files FIR; alleges caste-based abuse by seniors

    News June 23, 2025

    A Bengaluru-based IndiGo employee has filed a police complaint accusing three senior colleagues of caste-based…

    Intel overhauls marketing operations with AI and Accenture partnership

    News June 23, 2025

    Intel is gearing for major structural changes to its marketing division by outsourcing a significant…

    Maharashtra digitises HR management; rolls out Maha-AASTHA platform   

    News June 23, 2025

    The Maharashtra government has launched Maha AASTHA, a comprehensive digital platform intended to transform human…

    Asia's No.1 HR Platform

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn WhatsApp Bluesky
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Career
    • Reach Us
    • Exclusive Features
    • Cover Story
    • Editorial
    • Dive into the Future of Work: Download HRForecast 2024 Now!
    © 2025 HRKatha.com
    • Disclaimer
    • Refunds & Cancellation Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.