Catalyst Member Benchmarking Virtual Roundtable: Metrics and Accountability (9:30 a.m. ET)
Catalyst Member Benchmarking: Virtual Roundtables build a knowledge-sharing community among individuals from Catalyst member organizations. In these one-hour online discussions, participants share strategies, tactics, progress, and challenges related to a specific aspect of their diversity and inclusion (D&I) programs and policies.
The debut Roundtable, held at 9:30 a.m. ET and 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 10, 2010, focused on Metrics and Accountability. Panelists included Candice Morgan, Director, Advisory Services, and Julie S. Nugent, Senior Director, Research, both from Catalyst; and Kathryn Komsa, Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, Marsh and McLennan Companies. Also serving on the 9:30 a.m. panel was Loreli Buenaventura, Senior Manager, Leadership Development, Scotiabank. Individuals from Catalyst member companies in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America participated. A poll conducted during the sessions revealed that three-fourths of the participants held managers responsible for D&I efforts, whether or not compensation was tied to results, and that in two-thirds of their organizations, the highest ranking officer reviewed D&I metrics.
Although a different group of participants attended each of the two sessions, leading to unique discussions, both sessions were framed by the Catalyst perspective on Metrics and Accountablity. Questions addressed the best methods for sharing information and measuring progress, the optimal number of metrics to be tracked, and the ideal people to be held accountable. Insights included the following:
- Focus energy on specific, achievable goals that align with the organization's culture. ("You can't boil the ocean.")
- Use a variety of approaches to engage people. (Statistics appeal to some, stories to others.)
- Metrics alone won't lead to change; people need to be held accountable for inclusive behaviors. ("It's not just counting people, but making people count.")
- Celebrate the small wins! (Change takes time.)
Sponsor: McDonald's Corporation
Research Partners: American Express Company, BMO Financial Group, Deloitte LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, Google, IBM Corporation, McDonald's Corporation, UPS
