Kulturkampf

[Potato]

likewise metrics for determining whether "diversity of thought and experience" has really provided measurable benefits, considering the many homogeneous cultures that lack that diversity and keep on truckin' successfully like it's no big deal

"we should give star wars to kathleen kennedy, a woman, for her unique woman's perspective, which will surely broaden our audience and bring us success"

Diversity coupled with competence can be a very successful combination, bringing a greater mixture of ideas to the table and alternative perspectives. However the important part of that equation is "coupled with competence" and that most often gets left out.

Unfortunately, like the case with Kathleen Kennedy, it is diversity for the sake of diversity. Any white male who killed the Star Wars golden goose, then ran over it in his car while exploding its remains with dynamite like she did would have been fired so hard his kids would probably be unemployed.

but see from where I'm sitting, part of this whole discussion would be that competence often leads people to arrive at similar conclusions, the categorically best way to achieve something

so if competence is part of the equation, paradoxically you end up with less diversity of ideas, but maybe that's better because you don't want diversity for diversity's sake, you really do want to make the best decision

But you see, if two people use different perspectives and views to come to the same conclusion then you have greater evidence that you are probably onto a winning idea.

The argument against homogenised leadership is you just do shit the same way because that's how it's always been done. Diversity of opinion and perspective means those "how it's always been done" ideas at least get scrutinised by people who look at the situation slightly differently.

Ultimately, diversity is useless without the underlying competence. Start there instead of the diversity. 

Tangential to this discussion is my belief that education is the key to opportunity. Provide good educational opportunities for disadvantaged people and you will provide good outcomes.