Traveling the Road of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Have We Arrived at a Crossroads?

This article traverses the evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the U.S. general public and focuses on higher education. Although the DEI legal and political landscape has been cyclical, key stakeholders have emphasized the importance of diversity across all business school endeavors. The article uses a transportation metaphor to assert that effective DEI activities are not a destination but a challenging and rewarding journey. The authors raise and address the connected questions: how might diversity advocates meet at the intersection of indifference, exclusion, and inclusion to continue to create a just society for all, and where might student learning and case writing intervene and illuminate this pathway with an eye toward actionable DEI work and understanding? The business literature underscores the advantages case research and teaching have over other learning materials and methods to transport fresh, topical, and nuanced materials into the hands of teachers and students.  The business literature and key business school stakeholders have indicated a shortage of DEI  cases. The article suggests one way to increase the quantity and quality of DEI cases is to integrate diversity into all aspects of academic organizations and publication venues that support the DEI academic mission. The authors strongly maintain the unique publication mission of higher education institutions and organizations that publish faculty research emphasizing quality, peer-reviewed DEI cases and articles on writing and teaching with DEI cases. The Society for Case Research (SCR) values embrace the DEI mission, and the authors recommend SCR develop and publish a special journal issue in DEI. The DEI special issue could serve as a starting place for SCR to assist business school faculty in finding, developing, and using high- quality DEI cases as a pathway for providing students with a more comprehensive education and preparing them to work in diverse, inclusive, and changing workplaces.