Understanding the challenges of getting EDI policies to work authentically : Canadian lessons from a university and its staff

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the article in context. Findings This study aims to learn from the mistakes of EDI policy implementation at a Canadian university, by focusing on their failure points. Professors and instructors who were interviewed shared that they were overwhelmed, so skipped the detail of EDI policies to remain efficient at their jobs. And they felt the policies stripped them of autonomy. Without an effective enforcement mechanism, the educators took an ad-hoc approach, with nobody useful to turn to when a specific EDI concern did arise. The empty bureaucracy of these experiences left some educators wishing for a roadmap and enough resources to implement EDI policies authentically. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.