CHAPTER 9: Inclusion at Work: A Conceptual Model of Factors that Contribute to Climates for Inclusion

Research on inclusion in organizations has yet to identify the primary factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of climates for inclusion. The present research addresses this gap through the development of a comprehensive conceptual model depicting the critical factors that contribute to inclusive climates, and their proposed relationships to each other. Factors were identified through a comprehensive literature review, and affirmed through input from organizational climate, leadership, and inclusion subject matter experts. The final model focuses on behaviors that are malleable, emphasizing the role of leader and group behaviors in shaping climates for inclusion. The importance of top-down cultural change to support the development and maintenance of specific climates is discussed, as are applications of the research at multiple levels (e.g., leader, group, and organizational). This research provides a foundation for future empirical research on the nature of relationships among factors that foster, maintain, and improve a climate for inclusion.