The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group

  • 3

    Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

  • 5

    Uhm Jung-hwa enjoys second heyday with JTBC series 'Doctor Cha'

  • 7

    Tom Cruise to visit Korea to promote new film

  • 9

    REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

  • 11

    S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of maritime dispute

  • 13

    Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring

  • 15

    Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions

  • 17

    Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston

  • 19

    Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle'

  • 2

    Senior citizens land low-wage jobs after retirement: report

  • 4

    From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade

  • 6

    LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life

  • 8

    Korea beats Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

  • 10

    3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment

  • 12

    Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine

  • 14

    Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition

  • 16

    Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection

  • 18

    K-food transforms global culinary industry

  • 20

    Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Tue, June 6, 2023 | 18:46
Thoughts of the Times
Is this a bias or not?
Posted : 2021-08-04 17:00
Updated : 2021-08-04 17:00
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kim Jong-nam

Many companies believe that exploring unconscious bias in the workplace can be helpful for improving diversity and inclusion, because such prejudices can inhibit the promotion of diverse perspectives and consequently hinder the growth of diverse talents. However, there are many different problems that companies will have to tackle in order to fully explore this rich topic. First and foremost is the one that we will be looking at today: what is and isn't bias.

When asked if they have ever been biased in some way, most of the managers I have come across have admitted that they have. However, when questioned about the scenarios in which this bias occurred, their answers varied. Furthermore, during discussions about whether or not a certain phenomenon was the result of bias, discussion groups tended to be split on what they thought, despite the fact that we had all heard the same information! Some participants made the point that in order to fully understand if some judgments or decisions are biased, we need more background and context. However, it may be true that situations can still be ambiguous even when all of the facts are known.

This may even be true when managers have reason to believe that they are not biased ― if they see themselves as having acted based on concrete previous experience, for example. Because "unconscious bias" (or implicit bias) is often defined as?"prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person, or group as compared to another," people tend to think that having rational reasons as to why they think certain things means that their judgments must be unbiased and fair. However, some situations truly are difficult. Here are three different kinds of situations in which ambiguity is most likely to come into play.

First, many managers think that they cannot be biased when they are choosing which subordinates are most trustworthy or reliable for a project or task, because they believe that they already know which ones are most dependable. Subordinates who have proven to be credible and trustworthy are seen as obvious choices for new projects or tasks. Many managers share the opinion that this is not bias, because they are merely using their own personal experience. However, there can still be bias, because even the process of building trust can be subject to favoritism.

Second, many managers also think that valuing meritocracy will eliminate bias. It is true that using quantitative performance results allows less room for flaws in decision-making. If what's required for a certain job is well-defined, looking at these job descriptions can help managers stay objective. Of course, this approach may mean that the same person is chosen over and over again. Managers believe that since there is clear evidence that these people are deserving, this is not the result of bias. However, bias can still exist in a meritocracy, because "merit" can be evaluated differently based on which abilities a particular manager finds most important. Additionally, evaluation also can be subjective and limited based on what performance indicator is used to rate achievements. Thus, an intended meritocracy can contain bias depending on which abilities each manager is seeking.

Third, managers believe they are entitled to choose the most positive, enthusiastic and committed individuals to work with. Many mangers agree that subordinates who are negative and critical will not do as good a job. Therefore, a manger bypassing a negative subordinate in favor of a more positive peer is natural. Managers strongly believe that they are entirely justified in providing better opportunities to more positive and engaged employees. By the same token, when some employees act only in their own interest and are reluctant to take on difficult or poorly compensated work, many managers may begin to exclude them from future opportunities for career advancement. However, there can still be bias because of the vicious cycle here: managers won't give employees who behave in a negative way any opportunities because of their behavior. But perhaps these employees behave negatively because they haven't been given opportunities. This chicken-or-the-egg causality dilemma is one that managers should always keep in mind.

There may be many other occasions when it is difficult to tell which decisions resulted from bias and which did not. Human beings have a tendency to regard the status quo as being trustworthy and reliable. However, evaluating a person's trustworthiness, merit and personality is intrinsically subjective. Because of this, different managers may have different opinions about the same people, because they have different standards and perspectives. Unconscious bias is damaging, because it will deprive some people of the opportunity to prove themselves. This is not bad just for these individuals, but for managers, teams and organizations.

In order to prevent this from happening, managers should continually question themselves to ensure they are being fair.


Kim Jong-nam is the founding CEO of META (
www.imeta.co.kr) and a global organizational development consultant.


 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets
2Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans
3[ANALYSIS] S. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps ANALYSISS. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps
4Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20% Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20%
5Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers
6Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally
7Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War
8Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms
9HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean to compete in Busan to sell naval ships
10Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN Korea pushes digital technology exports to Middle East, Japan, ASEAN
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
2Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
3Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
4[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
5'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group