Essential Questions to Build Your I&B Business Case

As organizations are increasingly challenged to make the business case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion investments, we recommend applying i4cp's proprietary model The People-Productivity Chain to ask key strategic questions to help stakeholders--from company leaders to shareholders--better understand where Impact & Belonging (I&B) integrates and supports various aspects of the business.

Download this three-slide deck using the button above.

Additional details and considerations:

Most companies aren’t slowing down their I&B initiatives, despite the backlash: 

• Members of the i4cp Impact & Belonging Board say that I&B is 5x more likely to receive increased budget in 2025 than a decrease in budget.
• 75% of respondents from larger organizations said their company has made progress on stated I&B goals in the past 18 months. The most cited reasons why are:
  • Leadership buy-in (beyond the CEO)
  • Clear I&B goals and objectives
  • I&B is woven into their day-to-day business processes – as opposed to being view as separate, stand-alone initiatives.

Despite the progress, commitment to I&B hasn’t been without its challenges – predominately:

• Lack of clear – or clearly communicated – objectives, accountability, and metrics tied to outcomes
• Slightly more than 1/3rd of respondents from larger organizations report internal resistance from managers and frontline workers
• 1/3rd or fewer respondents from larger organizations have concerns related to:
  • Potential lawsuits spawning from company I&B activities
  • Negative media and social media attention that can harm corporate or employer brands
  • Damage to their culture