Critical Reflection Analysis: A Method for Developing Diversity Awareness Among (Future) Business Leaders

Traditional educational approaches are struggling to address societal inequities as well as to reflect on the complexity of diversity. This chapter presents how the innovative research and educational method of Critical Reflection Analysis (CRA) can be adopted in teaching for developing diversity awareness of (future) business leaders. CRA helps in developing a systemic understanding of social dilemmas. It encourages us to examine the underlying causes and interconnections of problems, rather than focusing solely on surface-level symptoms. In this chapter, guidelines for implementing CRA and methodology on how to evaluate different approaches related to diversity contexts are presented. Since CRA is developed upon two key capabilities, i.e., critical thinking and reflection, it can significantly contribute to social sustainability by providing a structured approach to analyzing and improving social systems and practices. The emphasis is given to setting up key parameters for the development and assessment of critical thinking skills. These parameters guide learners to reflect on and recognize biases and stereotypes concerning race, gender, or any other system of advantage and disadvantage socially constructed in their own culture. The use of CRA supports a better understanding of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to social sustainability, for instance, SDG 5 (Gender equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities). Moreover, it provides guidelines for how these goals can be approached in teaching and learning in the higher education environment. Adopting the CRA method in business education fosters constructive discussions and helps to create reasonable solutions to current diversity challenges.