A Systems Thinking Approach to Hispanic Engineer’s Involvement in Corporate Diversity Networks

Abstract

Affinity networks, also known as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), are increasingly essential in today’s corporate world as they play a crucial role in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations. These groups provide a platform for employees from underrepresented or marginalized communities to connect, share experiences, and find support. ERGs geared towards Hispanic employees are often advertised as not only a means to connect with others and provide a sense of belonging but are also often promoted as avenues towards successful professional development and growth for underrepresented employees. This research explores the perspectives of a group of experienced engineers from various technical backgrounds and industries to understand if there is a correlation between generational status for Hispanic Americans and their overall perceived benefits from participating in ERGs. The study provides a detailed literature review of relevant existing research on this subject, followed by semi-structured interviews of ten participants, and a thematic analysis approach used to analyze the data into the following five themes: diversity considerations for school and job selections, employee perspective on ERGs, sense of belonging and generational differences, the meaning of inclusiveness, and continued participation. Finally, a research conclusion and a series of recommendations are provided.