We'll explore the concepts from Parable of the Polygons (PotP) within the context of diversity in tech.
- Let's say tech executives (consciously or subconsciously) seek teams in which at least 1/3 of team members are like them (gender, age, race). How will this impact the types of jobs available? ** It would propogate a culture of likemindedness, cancel out opportunities for diversity, and create an expectation of sameness.
- Diversity "quotas" are sometimes dismissed as counter-productive or missing the point of actually valuing diversity. PotP does demonstrate how they may add some value. What are your attitudes toward diversity quotas; does this game change your assumptions? ** I think that it depends. If a company has demonstrated a strong hiring bias and statistically has very few people from diverse backgrounds on its staff, then I think instantiating a diversity quota would not be a bad idea. However, the intention behind it matters. If their intent is to create a more diverse working environment so that their teams are more innovative and to enrich overall company culture, then great. If it is simply to "look better on paper" than the company may need to revisit their approach. The best-case-scenerio is if diversity is held as an important company value from the start, and views every action they do through the mission of being authentically diverse. If it isn't an authentic approach, the work environment could become hostile for individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Given the patterns illuminated by PotP, what other strategies may be effective in counteracting bias? ** Educating everyone about inherent bias, prejudice, and history. Creating diverse environments where people can get to know eachother as people.
- PotP speaks to the power of group norms: a seemingly innocuous attitude, wanting to be surrounded by at least 1/3 of people who look like you, when embraced by a large group, can have huge implications on that community. Considering this reality, what knowledge and understandings should Turing impart to students to ensure they do not enter the field perpetuating ideas that are in conflict with our mission. ** Give us the facts! African-Americans and people from Latinx backgrounds make up only 5% of tech talent at the top companies. Only 1% of venture tech companies have a black founder. Women hold only 25% of computing jobs. Give us the facts so that we are armed with knowledge once we're out in the field.
- PotP is a pretty sweet example of how technology can illustrate complex ideas. What are PotP's goals, and how effective do you think the game is in advancing those goals? ** Their goal is to accentuate that the perspective of one person can have a larger over-all effect, especially when it's shared by other people around them.