Broadening the Lens: Integrating Context and Intersectionality to Advance Global DEI Research in the Academy of Management

This Academy of Management (AOM) collection examines three decades of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) research evolution across AOM journals in the research areas of gender, race, and intersectionality. Through analysis of 12 foundational articles spanning 1992–2024, we trace the field’s transformation from exclusionary practices to sophisticated, multilevel frameworks. The collection demonstrates progression through four phases: foundational critiques establishing core theoretical problems, single-identity research building empirical understanding, intersectional breakthroughs revealing complex organizational realities, and emerging contextual approaches enabling global applicability. While significant advances include recognition of organizations as racialized entities, the development of intersectional frameworks, and sophisticated theoretical tools, the field now requires contextually sensitive approaches that incorporate temporal, spatial, and cultural dimensions. This collection guides readers through pivotal research that collectively establishes the foundation for more inclusive, globally applicable DEI scholarship that addresses complex organizational realities while providing actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers worldwide.