Skip to content
Open access

BEYOND DECLARATIONS: THE REALITY OF INCLUSIVE TRAINING IN POST-SOCIALIST EUROPE

2026 · APEIRON: a journal for ancient philosophy and science · Vol 33 · 0 citations

Abstract

In recent years, organizations operating across different sectors have been facing increasing demands for socially responsible business practices, which also implies the development of inclusive work environments. In an effort to adapt to these changes, many organizations are introducing diversity-oriented training programs. In this paper, research was based on empirical data and examines whether there are differences between private and public organizations in post-socialist countries regarding the implementation of diversity-oriented training. In addition, the analysis explores whether organizational size acts as a moderating factor in this relationship. Overall, the results indicate a low level of diversity training implementation in both sectors. However, performed non-parametric analysis indicates greater engagement and proactivity of organizations operating in the private sector, compared to organizations from the public sector, while the applied hierarchical linear regression showed that the size of the organization does not have a statistically significant moderating effect. The findings suggest that, in the context of developing inclusive and socially responsible human resource management practices, institutional logic is more important than organizational capacities. In addition to presenting the results of the empirical analysis, this paper also provides insights into how diversity-oriented training contributes to organizational adaptability and employee development.

Read PDF

Similar papers

Open access 2026

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in India, Future Outlook amid Changing Global Narratives

This research explores the evolving landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the Indian corporate sector, with a particular focus on the perspectives and practices of Human Resource professionals. Against the backdrop of global socio-political shifts—such as the rollback of DEI mandates under the Trump administration in the United States—this study aims to assess how DEI is conceptualized, implemented, and received in the Indian context. The paper begins by defining DEI in the workplace, emphasizing its strategic importance in promoting inclusive cultures and equitable opportunities across diverse workforces. Utilizing a quantitative approach, primary data was collected through structured questionnaires distributed to HR professionals across various sectors. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, Chi-Square tests, and ANOVA to evaluate relationships between organizational type, leadership support, implementation challenges, and anticipated future trends in DEI. Key findings reveal both progressive efforts and significant resistance—particularly toward diverse hiring initiatives—highlighting the complexity of embedding DEI deeply into organizational strategy. The study concludes with practical recommendations for strengthening DEI frameworks in Indian organizations, while also acknowledging the limitations of self-reported data and sample scope. This research contributes to a localized understanding of DEI and offers insights that can inform policy, leadership development, and long-term strategic planning.

Priteshkumar D Joshi, Pranusha Kulkarni, Pulind Samant · 0 citations
Review Open access Aug 2026

Strategies and Impacts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace: Evidence from the Private Sector of Saudi Arabia

This paper investigates the impact of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) on employee engagement in Saudi private sector using Social Identity Theory and Inclusive Leadership as theoretical lenses. The analysis was done based on survey data of 701 employees with structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that DEI activities have a substantial impact on employees’ feeling of inclusiveness/being treated fairly, and the perception of leadership support to its long timeemployees around the world. The comparative results suggest that cultural value systems are a stronger moderator of the relationships than policies for Saudization; this reflects the greater influence of social norms in comparison to regulatory-based measures. While the research is located in the context of Saudi Arabia’s transformations, it adds to international (DEI) literature by applying theory-building concepts to a non-Western hierarchical policy-driven backdrop. The resultsalso provide pragmatic implications for organizations and policymakers, specifically in the integration of DEI initiatives with Vision 2030 towards increasing female workforce involvement, fostering diversity at leadership positions and promoting sustainable localization.

Agel Fara Alsulami · 0 citations
Conference Open access Aug 2026

NGO activities in changing contexts: a realistic synthesis perspective

This study analyzes how the practices and classifications of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are formed in today’s institutional, governance, funding, and political environment. The study aims to explain how, in specific contexts, mechanisms are activated that structure NGOs’ actions and determine their positions in interactions among civil society, the state, and the market. The study uses a two-stage qualitative methodology that combines a literature review and a realistic synthesis approach. The literature review stage structures the literature on NGOs’ operating principles. At the same time, realistic synthesis helps identify the various contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes that explain how institutional, funding, governance, and political environments condition NGOs’ activities and outcomes. The study shows that NGO activities cannot be reduced to well-known types; instead, they are shaped by dynamic interactions between external expectations and internal interpretations within the organization. The study offers a conceptual basis for revising the traditional approach to NGO classification and can contribute to a broader understanding of NGOs in both academic research and policy planning.

Krista Alksne, Anita Straujuma, Elīna Gaile-Sarkane · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

Unravelling the role of innovation and institutions in circular economy actions across European small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises

This study contributes to the literature on the circular economy (CE) and small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) by advancing both theory and empirical evidence on the role of contextual factors. Theoretically, it refines institutional and cultural contingency perspectives by showing that national innovation systems and societal norms do not uniformly enhance the effectiveness of financial support for CE adoption. Instead, these contextual factors shape the impact of public and private financial resources in an asymmetric and selective manner. By jointly considering formal institutions, such as a country's innovation level, and informal institutions, such as social indulgence, the study offers a more nuanced framework to explain cross‐country variation in SMEs' engagement with CE practices. Empirically, the study analyses Flash Eurobarometer data from 26 European Union countries collected in 2015, 2017 and 2021. The results indicate that greater public and private financial support is associated with higher levels of CE engagement among SMEs. In addition, the findings reveal that national innovation levels positively moderate the relationship between public financial support and CE actions, whereas social indulgence negatively moderates the relationship between public support and CE development. Overall, the study provides comparative evidence highlighting the importance of tailoring financial support policies to national institutional and cultural contexts.

L. Fuentelsaz, Mercedes Gil‐Lamata, A. B. L. de Sousa Jabbour · 0 citations
Review Jul 2026

When Markets and Democracy Coincide: Perceived Sector Differences in Participation in Government-Funded Programs

This article investigates the effects of participation on performance assessment in government, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations that deliver public services. In addition to examining the impact of participation on public assessments of performance, we also test the perceived tradeoff between efficiency and participation, as well as the sectoral differences in the participation-performance relationship. We conducted a preregistered vignette experiment using the context of US nursing homes where various organizational information, including participation opportunities, and sector of operation (public, for-profit, and nonprofit sectors) serve as key treatment manipulations. We find that participation plays a critical role in enhancing perceptions of organizations regardless of sectors, but government organizations may obtain greater benefits by pursuing participation, especially in improving public perception of bureaucratic effectiveness and efficiency. These findings suggest that participation is not only normatively desirable, but also practically beneficial for organizations. The findings from this study contribute to advancing our knowledge on public participation, sector differences, performance management, and public values. This research was pre-registered at the American Economic Association's registry for randomized controlled trials (RCT ID: AEARCTR-0011918 and URL hidden for peer review).

Suyeon Jo, Kenneth J. Meier · 0 citations
Open access Jul 2026

Social Dimension of ESG: Determinants of Corporate Social Responsibility for the Inclusion of Disadvantaged Populations

Purpose: This study examines the Social Dimension of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) by identifying which Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) actions effectively target disadvantaged individuals. It aims to determine the organizational, financial, and strategic factors that increase the likelihood of companies incorporating vulnerable groups into their social initiatives. Design/methodology/approach: The research applies an exploratory, quantitative design using a structured questionnaire administered to 48 Human Resources and ESG managers. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, ANOVA, and the Friedman test were used to validate the instrument. Binary logistic regression served as the core analytical technique, enabling the estimation of the probability that firms direct social actions toward disadvantaged populations. Findings: Results show that the duration of social programs is the strongest predictor of inclusion, followed by financial investment specifically allocated to disadvantaged groups. Conversely, generalist anti-hunger actions exhibit a negative association with inclusion, suggesting diluted effectiveness. Perceptual variables regarding ESG importance showed no statistical significance. Model robustness was supported by R²=0.664. Research limitations/implications: The limited and region-specific sample restricts generalization. Future research should include broader sectors and mixed methods to deepen understanding of firm-level decision-making in ESG. Practical implications: Findings highlight the need for continuous, well-funded, and strategically segmented programs to enhance the effectiveness of corporate social initiatives. Social implications: Strengthening long-term investments and targeted interventions can improve corporate contributions to social equity and reduce structural vulnerability. Originality/value: The study advances ESG literature by empirically demonstrating which factors most influence firms’ inclusion of disadvantaged groups, offering quantitative evidence for improving CSR effectiveness.

Edilson Gonçalves Teixeira, Marcelo Fabricio Garcia, Simone Regina Negrão Moerman et al. · 0 citations