It turns out that diversity is bunk.
If you ask 1,000 people why diversity is good, I expect you'll find 999 have no idea. Even the people cramming it down other people's throats have no idea why, in theory, diversity is "good." If they put forward a reason, it's usually the wrong one listed below.
The Wrong Reason
Diversity is good because it brings forward multiple beliefs and experiences, which when all considered, can result in a better outcome. Without diversity, the solution space might be too small!
Counterexamples: The success of non-diverse organizations since the beginning of time.
Groupthink
What these idiots are dancing around is the concept of groupthink. The published reason why diversity counters groupthink is that diversity in a group increases conflict. Increased conflict in a group is believed to result in better decisions.
Food for thought: Is diversity the only method of increasing conflict within a group? Doesn't Intel excel at within group conflict?
However, is groupthink a real effect? What is the evidence for it? It turns out that the academic papers proposing groupthink are descriptional -- or qualitative -- analysis, not quantitative. These are analyses of American foreign policy blunders, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion. No way exists to measure the occurrence or severity of groupthink within a group.
A dubious psychological phenomenon is therefore the only "scientific" justification of diversity. It is quite a leap to apply this concept -- which came from descriptive studies of politicians -- to corporations, or groups within corporations. Especially engineering organizations, which have as a hard limit the laws of nature.
Why Diversity is Bunk
- Reduced Group Cohesiveness: Real scientific studies have shown that sexual (male/female) and racial diversity within a group reduces trust and cohesiveness. The group is therefore less effective. If employee A is leaving early to get the kids, employee B always leaves at 5 PM, and employee C is an idiot, the other employees aren't motivated to put in any more work that A, B, and C.
Hypothesis: Some work has shown that groups of white males create a uniquely competitive culture, which results in high group effectiveness and achievement.
- It goes against human nature: Real scientific studies of primates -- including humans -- have shown that humans are naturally attracted to people who look like themselves. Consider when you enter into a large group of people. The people that, at minimum, you have something in common with are the ones that look like you.
Why Diversity
It's required by the U.S. government, of course. Note how Intel doesn't give two sh_ts about it in other countries.