Research Project
PSU DEI Impacts Research Project in Oregon and SW Washington
Partners in Diversity is excited to announce a new research project in collaboration with Portland State University to understand the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in regional organizations. The DEI IMPACTS Project aims to survey employees from 50 medium-to-large size organizations based in Oregon and SW Washington. We aim to learn:
- What is the current state of DEI policy and practice in Oregon and SW Washington organizations?
- What are the tangible, bottom-line benefits of effective DEI policy/practice for organizations?
- Which policies and practices have the biggest impacts on employee well-being, retention, and commitment?
Only by surveying employees in a wide range of organizations can we pinpoint the policies and practices that create the outcomes organizations care about: retention, attraction, productivity, and organizational commitment. This is why your organization’s participation in this project is crucial; we can’t do it without you!
Benefits for Your Organization
- A free report compiled for your organization summarizing key indicators of DEI policy success
- Access to the full regional report, allowing you to compare your organization’s outcomes to other organizations in the area and understand common challenges and solutions
- A clear signal of commitment to outcomes-driven DEI policy. By partnering with independent researchers, your employees will know you value their unfiltered feedback and you are committed to understanding the impacts of the policies and practices you’ve spent time and money implementing.
DEI Impacts Project Consists of:
- At least 1 (one) interview (30-60 minutes) with leaders (e.g., HR managers, DEI specialists, executives with knowledge of the organization’s DEI policy/practice)
- An organization-wide anonymous employee survey in 2 (two) parts (10-15 minutes each).
Interviews and surveys will be conducted by Portland State University researchers. These researchers are experts in organizational DEI policy and have worked with organizations in both the U.S. and Europe.
Attend an Info Session with Researchers
Leaders with knowledge of the organization’s DEI policy and practices are encouraged to attend a short in-person or virtual information session with the researchers about the project to address questions and concerns.
If you are interested in participating, please complete this intake form:
Benefits of This Project Beyond Standard Internal Surveys
- Compare outcomes across different organizations in the same region
- Researcher independence, allowing for confidence that feedback is anonymous and secure
- Questionnaires developed by experts and validated research
- Exploration of links between policies and individual and organizational outcomes. As a Partners in Diversity member, your commitment to building a maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace is clear. Join us in strengthening this commitment by participating in the DEI IMPACTS Project, the first of its kind in this region.
- Ethical oversight from Portland State University’s Institutional Review Board
As a Partners in Diversity member, your commitment to building a maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace is clear. Join us in strengthening this commitment by participating in the DEI IMPACTS Project, the first of its kind in this region.
Contact Researchers: Dr. Tessa Dover at tdover@pdx.edu or Dr. Claudia Toma at ctoma@pdx.edu
Contact Partners in Diversity: Nolan Douglass at ndouglass@partnersindiversity.org
Sponsoring Organizations
