Diversity in the high-tech workplace: diversity and performance in R&D

Abstract

Some results of surveys of about 2000 scientists and engineers in the R&D units of 18 major US companies are examined. The aim is to determine whether a performance, teamwork, and/or leadership gap exists between native-born white men and women, foreign-born scientists, and native-born minorities. The foreign-born rate themselves higher than the US-born on innovativeness, usefulness, and cooperativeness, but no differently on promotability. Women respondents rate themselves lower on innovativeness, usefulness, and promotability, but higher on cooperativeness. These and other findings are discussed.>