Warren, M. A. & Kanov, J. (in progress). Positive relational allyship behavior: An integrative review and future research agenda.

As the unfair treatment of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) and other marginalized groups has become more visible in recent times, organizational scholars have grown increasingly interested in examining the role of allies in supporting anti-racism work in particular and in understanding the dynamics of organizational inclusion more generally. Despite significant strides, the extant research and scholarship on organizational inclusion has fallen short in effectively eliciting the experience of inclusiveness among marginalized groups members. This elusivity stems from an underappreciation of the powerful role of organizational members’ everyday behaviors in influencing people’s experiences of inclusion. To shed crucial light on this missing piece of the inclusion puzzle, the present paper will review literatures focusing on the following three topics: the experience of inclusion, allyship behavior, and positive work relationships, to offer a relational understanding of allyship work as a key driver of the experience of inclusion in the workplace. Through this review, we will describe various domains of allyship behaviors and map the behavioral ecosystem of allyship. Insights from the review are expected to alter the trajectory of research in the positive work relationships, allyship, and inclusion literatures. 

*Katie Winkelman assisted on this project by organizing literature review database and brainstorm analyses plans