Breaking the Silence (A): Taboo Topics

Name: Breaking the Silence (A): Taboo Topics (English version)
SKU: 9B20C043

Alison Konrad; Kanina Blanchard; Karen MacMillan

Product #:9B20C043

Supplier:Ivey

Discipline:International Business, Organizational Behaviour/Leadership, Sustainability

Setting:Canada, United States, 2020

Details:Role-Play (PDF) • 18 pages • 2020-09-25 (Rev: 2021-08-09)

Subjects:

Equity financing Financing Business management Organizational culture Leadership and managing people International business Organizational behavior Management

Geography:

North America Canada United States

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Students need to practice talking about taboo topics. The ‘A’ case offers background on recent calls to end discrimination (e.g., #MeToo, Black Lives Matter protests) and highlights the struggles business schools, in particular, have faced in dealing with intolerance. It offers an opportunity for students to consider and role play eight mini-cases based on real events. Topics covered include gender, race, diversity/inclusion, socio-economic inequities, harassment, LGBTQ+ issues, white privilege, and ableism. The ‘B’ case asks students to consider similar past interactions in their own lives so they can personalize the process and make plans for how they will deal with such events in the future.

This is a Role-play case tailored for case method and experiential learning.

Learning Objectives

This case can be used effectively in undergraduate- and graduate-level courses or modules on leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, organizational behaviour, communication, or ethics. After working through the cases and assignment questions, students will be able to

recognize and explore the challenges faced by both individuals and groups that experience intolerance and discrimination;
experience reduced levels of discomfort when engaging in conversations related to intolerance and discrimination;
analyze a conversation in order to pinpoint triggers and cues concerning emotional distress;
develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of varying perspectives; and
reflect on past interactions to increase readiness for future conversations.