6.4 <3 diversity and inclusion

• Digital inclusion


  Positive effects on individuals and organizations in the digital sector
• Positive effects of digital inclusion on individuals

  • Enhanced access
  • Increased accessibility and inclusivity
  • Lower exclusion
  • Enhanced quality of life
• Enhanced access


  • Increased speeds to the Internet become more common, the opportunities and inclusion increase
  • All demographic groups will benefit from enhanced access and connectivity to digital technology
• Increased accessibility and inclusivity

  • Individuals regardless of their demographic group, can access services such a government websites, retail and finance
  • If these services conform to WCAG then accessibility and inclusivity will be increased
  • All demographic groups will benefit from enhanced access and connectivity to digital technology
• Lower exclusion


  • All people will have a lower risk of being excluded from all the wonderful online services that are offered
  • There is also and increased probability that if individuals need assistive technology to meet their needs, then his will be available
• Enhanced quality of life

  • Increased access to websites and the services they offer
  • Websites available from home
  • Increased ability to communicate with family and friends
  • Communication enhanced with higher broadband speeds
  • Social media, video conferencing, online messaging can also reduce isolation
  • Jobs can be carried out remotely
  • Increased use of the cloud and online communication facilities
  • Availability of assistive technology helps people carry out their job role
  • Increased access to career opportunities, along with the utilization of inclusive recruitment, are available which in turn leads to an increase in social mobility
• Positive effects of digital inclusion on organizations

  • Digital exclusion for all demographic groups is reduced
  • Retention will be increased
  • Increase in the organization's customer base
  • Increased profits
• Digital exclusion for all demographic groups is reduced

  • By increasing inclusion, a greater variation in employment demographics can be achieved
  • This can be achieved by considering the Equality Act and by using inclusive recruitment procedures
• Retention will be increased


  • Achieved by policies and procedures that increase inclusion
  • As retention increases, the business will be more likely to invest in these employees such as paying for them to do qualifications
  • This gives a more skilled workforce for the company
• Increase in the organization's customer base

  • UK Government has provided a legally binding Universal Service Obligation (USO) of minimum downloads speeds of 10 Mbps
  • This USO provides an increase in stable broadband speeds and is linked with the publicly funded B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North.)
  • This means remote and rural communities can access the internet and its services so increases inclusion
  • This could lead to an increase in the customer base for an organization
• Increased profits


  • Using websites, linked with the increased accessibility of the internet, an organization can now reach potential customers in previously inaccessible areas
  • Businesses across the world can also communicate and do business together
  • This, and the increased access to customers will lead to an increase in profits
• Digital inclusion


  Principles of digital inclusion
• Principles of digital inclusion not applied


  Adverse effects to individuals and organizations
• You will learn about

  • Adverse effects on individuals when digital inclusion is not applied
  • Adverse effects on organizations when digital inclusion is not applied
• Adverse effects on individuals due to lack of digital inclusion

  • Reduced access to services like financial services or retail, including special offers
  • Decrease in access to paid employment
  • Decrease in employment opportunities
  • Decrease in overall quality of life
  • Social isolation
• Social isolation due to lack of digital inclusion

  1. Many people rely on online services to communicate with family and friends

  2. Stable broadband speed not available, or websites offering these facilities don't have accessible options, then communication is reduced

  3. Not being able to access employment opportunities due to lack of assistive technology leads to a decrease in work-based social interaction leading to increased social isolation
• Adverse effects on organizations due to lack of digital inclusion

  • Decrease in applicants with the correct skills and qualifications
  • Reduction in people who have the skills and qualifications to meet the organizations functional needs
  • Restriction in service and reduced accessibility to all demographic groups
  • Reduction in profit
• Equality Act and the WCAG not conformed with


  Organization's website will not be accessible to all visitors
• Organization's website not accessible to all visitors

  Reduction in customer interactions and a decrease in profits
• Equality Act breached by an organization or one of its employees


  Financial penalties can be imposed
• Equality Act breach by organization


  Reputation of the organization will diminish