Close the Gap Between Commitment and Accountability

The Korn Ferry Institute surveyed 400 global executives in August 2013 about their organization's diversity and inclusion practices in four areas: business impact, strategy, management accountability and leadership diversity.

The absence of accountability and compensation incentives was particularly glaring. It suggests these two key management levers—which commonly signal mission-critical areas of focus for leaders—are not being used frequently enough, or in the right mix, to drive behavior change and organizational progress. Ultimately, this may indicate that executives don't promote or prioritize the diversity and inclusion strategy throughout the organization.

This lack of accountability has contributed to a disheartening lack of progress in underrepresented talent in leadership positions as well as such talent being fully included and treated equitably.