Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Raj Singh

Abstract

This qualitative project provided a content analysis of secondary data to develop and implement racial equity, diversity, and inclusion workplace competencies for a White-led Washington State government organization. This organization sought to work towards racial equity at its center, based on Governor Jay Inslee's mandate. Consequently, leaders have redesigned systems and cultures using a racial equity lens to understand the concept better. Understanding racism helps to bridge a gap in the literature on how personal and professional beliefs play a significant role in institutional racism and its operation within their organization. The critical race theory informed leaders on how policy, laws, and racism intersect and engaged within their organization and concepts regarding workplace competencies, antiracism, diversity, employee engagement, inclusion, racial equity, and racism. The research question contributed to developing and implementing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion workplace competencies by using data from several separate employee engagement surveys. Survey results were analyzed using the content analysis approach to identify seven themes and patterns which are bias and privilege, uncomfortable, favoritism, de-valued, transparency, and autonomy. Investigating employee engagement within a state government organization expanded the knowledge across the state and assisted in meeting the governor's mandate of building a more inclusive work environment for everyone. The results of this project can assist in creating positive social change through developing and implementing nine workplace competencies for a state government organization by enabling social change within the public service system.

Download

Share

 
COinS