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What makes a problem a problem?
For the New York Times editorial board businesses have a
problem when they do not have enough diversity. Profitability does not matter.
Quality of product and service does not matter. Growth and future prospects do
not matter.
It’s diversity uber
alles.
Apparently, the Times has just discovered what many news
outlets have been reporting for months now—Silicon Valley is not a very diverse
place.
The Times editorialized:
After
years of playing down the problem, technology companies like Google, Facebook and Apple now say they’re serious
about improving the gender and ethnic diversity of their work forces and
corporate boards. Recent data from those companies and others like them confirm
what everyone has long known: Most of their employees are white and Asian men.
Among technical employees, few are women, and even fewer are Latino or
African-American.
But, why is this a problem? Are these companies not doing
very well? Are they not building their businesses? Are they not world beaters
in their fields? The companies named-- Google, Facebook and Apple-- count among
the shining lights in American and world business.
As the old saying goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
And yet, the Times is offended that these companies are
insufficiently diverse. It cannot argue that these companies are failing and
need a major overhaul. So it says that they will be able to do better. How does the Times know this? It explains that “studies” “prove” diversity to be
good for the bottom line:
Tech
companies should care about these numbers. Many studies show that companies
with gender and ethnic diversity tend to be more
creative and more
profitable, because varied perspectives help them design products and
services that appeal to a diverse, worldwide audience.
Of course, Google is not selling soap or moisturizer. Apple
has done extremely well selling computer products. And Facebook… remind me of
why its products do not appeal to a diverse worldwide audience? Do you think
that technical support would be better if it were sprinkled around
the world, rather than concentrated in India?
As one expects, the Times editorial is all fluff and no
substance. The paper does not understand that
businesses are not in the business of promoting people on the basis of
diversity. Is the more diverse Times more profitable than Google?
If the Times is right, an enterprising tech company can hire up
all of the highly qualified women and minority applicants that have been rejected
by Silicon Valley and become a world beater. If there is a problem, the market
can surely take care of it.
Since the Times, I suspect, does not believe in market
solutions it will eventually insist that these companies be sued for
discrimination or deprived of government contracts… until they become suitably
diverse.
Don’t you know? It’s for their own good.
4 comments:
Always interesting that people who are neither innovative, risk takers or great thinkers believe that progress is made by ones gender, race or sexual orientation. It would seem that success is fine as long as it does not come from the very people who are willing to take the risks involved.
There is a solution here that only requires people to take responsibility, be prepared to fail, get the education requisite and create the conditions for success. When one creates a system where people are not prepared to fail then one is handicapping their ability to succeed. There is no one, repeat no one, who cannot succeed in this country if they take the time to apply themselves, set goals and understand that hard work is the key. And yes an inclination towards the chosen field of endeavor does play a significant role. One is not going to be a great singer with a "tin" ear.
One should never allow themselves to become a "token" or the object of those who have an agenda that really cares little about you other than a characteristic and less about your capacity to do great things. If one does then one never knows whether they did succeed. There is nothing greater than the realization that one has the ability and wherewithal to endure and accomplish one's goals. There is much to be said for "tilting at windmills."
Whining and blaming others NEVER solve problems and only exacerbates one's ability to face the challenges set before them. Far too many women, minorities and people who started out in poverty have demonstrated it can be done.
Always amusing that the diversity call goes out along with equality when the latter will finish the former.
How come the media don't complain about black over-representation in sports?
Or female overrepresentation among veterinarians?
Or the fact that among white men, it's Jewish men who are overrepresented vis-a-vis gentile white men?
Or the fact that Libs are far more overrepresented than Cons in media, academia, and high tech.
Nothing will make the "diversity" gang happy. They are obsessed with mythical beliefs.
When colleges quit wasting time and precious financial resources "teaching" gender/identity studies - everyone will be better off.
Maybe then more women will take math just like the Asians.
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