Cultivating Inclusion: Strengthening Equality and Belonging

#Asia, #Culture, #Diversity, #Empathy, #EqualityandBelonging, #ESG, #EthnographicResearch, #FashionRetail, #HumanCenteredDesign, #HumanNeeds, #Inclusion, #Leaders, #SustainabilityandInclusion

Context:

Our client was a leading global fashion retailer with equality and belonging as core values . They had been recognized as #1 company in the Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion index, and as a leading performer in Bloomberg’s Gender – Equality Index. With the #BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement gaining steam in the US, the company wanted a comprehensive understanding of what inclusion, equality and belonging meant for the Asia organization, given the socio-cultural context and organizational dynamics. LagomWorks was selected as the preferred partner given its expertise in human-centred design.

The intent of the project was to develop a shared understanding of the constructs of inclusion, equality and belonging, and identify actions that could strengthen the inclusion practices while reinforcing the global foundation. The 8-months journey touched 10 regions across Asia and Europe, with active participation from the global leaders.

Collaboration with LagomWorks:

LagomWorks brought together the power of social sciences and human-centred design to understand and decode the three elements of inclusion, equality and belonging. The Human Needs framework enabled us to anchor what people were saying to the universal human values, while balancing the eternal human endeavour to create one’s individual identity, and yet be part of a social collective.

An iterative approach helped us unpeel the multiple layers these words have. The mixed-methods research involved not only deep conversations with global sponsors, country and HR leaders, but also discussions with a cross section of employees. Use of ethnographic research methods and tools to study what people are experiencing in their daily life provided valuable cues of what makes individuals feel truly included.

“I am working in Country A, while my family is in Country B. I don’t like living away from home, but I don’t have an option – it is for their education and to make sure they get the best.” The dreaded COVID had separated people from their families. Employee segments like these had to be planned for, not just the mainstream employees.

Team

Impact

The following takeaways set the stage for an orgwide exercise of co-creating and finalizing actions-that-matter. The foundation was created through:

Shared understanding of Equality & Belonging translated into organizational definitions.

Identification of Human Needs and resultant How-Might-We’s.

Clearly identified areas for action: Recognition, Bottom-up participation, Cross-functional communication, and collaboration.

The inclusion, equality and belonging elements were integrated with the global definitions and incorporated in the ESG reporting. The D&I charter was formalized and cascaded at the end of the journey.

” LagomWorks is truly unique in their approach to problem-solving. They not only address immediate challenges but also cultivate a culture of innovation. Working with them feels like a partnership, ensuring solutions are effective and sustainable. Their use of design thinking creates user-centric solutions that truly make a difference. “