ELO Increasing Spend with Minority and Black-led Businesses: Investigating Supplier Diversity at MIT
Summary
As part of President Reif’s letter to the MIT community this summer on addressing systemic racism at MIT, he has committed the Institute to increasing spend with minority and Black-led businesses. To support this, the Small and Diverse Business Program is seeking student assistance in analyzing our supplier data, evaluating the local business landscape, and investigating channels to socialize this charge.
This ELO will give student(s) insight into the process of purchasing at a large, complex, decentralized organization, and to influence said process. It will highlight the close relationship between anchor institutions and their communities, incorporating aspects of higher education operations, urban planning, economic development, and social justice. Additionally, the student will develop research and communication skills, engaging a wide variety of sources and stakeholders.
The Small and Diverse Business Program
Mission Statement
The Vice President for Finance Office (VPF) is committed to supporting a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable MIT. As part of this commitment, the Small and Diverse Business Program aims to increase participation of small, diverse, and sustainable businesses in supplying our campus with goods and services.
VPF supports this program through:
- Ensuring small businesses and those owned by women, veterans, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities are engaged during the sourcing process.
- Working with all suppliers to identify environmentally preferable products and services they can offer to our campus purchasers.
- Conducting outreach to local business organizations, chambers of commerce, and national business enterprise associations to inform suppliers about opportunities to work with MIT.
- Communicating to campus purchasers the value proposition of utilizing diverse and sustainable suppliers and offering resources to facilitate these transactions.
As the Small and Diverse Business Program expands, it will continue to benefit MIT and our wider community by strengthening relationships with diverse suppliers, supporting campus purchasers in addressing their complex needs, and demonstrating MIT’s commitment to an equitable and sustainable future.
Working Approach
- The Small and Diverse Business Program recognizes that an intersectional approach is critical to creating a program that undermines the structures of systemic racism.
- Race, ethnicity, country of origin, tribal status, (dis)ability, (a)gender, and sexuality (our identities) influence how we move through the world. This includes who has access to capital and resources to start or run a business.
- Disinvestment by federal and local governments in Black and brown communities has led to disproportionate environmental harm which will be/is exacerbated by climate change. Therefore, sustainability is a critical component of this program.
- Anchor institutions, like MIT, have significant place-based investments. Therefore, they are a key player in any local economy.
- Reallocating our spend cannot happen without also participating in capacity building efforts in the Black and brown business community.
Project Description
1. Hands-on/Applied Approach: This project would allow students to engage with the Cambridge business community, analyze the role anchor institutions play as an economic driver, and investigate how MIT can leverage its purchasing power to support its overall mission of increasing equity and sustainability. Final products could include a report to be presented to VPF and Institute leadership/City staff and/or a map of area small businesses and their demographic information.
2. Rigorous Academic Content/Focus: This ELO would give students the opportunity to engage in research with primary sources (business owners), analyze disparate sources of secondary data (MIT’s supplier data, qualitative data from interviews, research on peer organizations and historical policy making), and synthesize the material into a format that will be utilized in Institutional operations. Undergraduates could use it as an excellent introduction to a wide variety of disciplines, and tailor the focus to meet their interests with guidance from the Small and Diverse Business Program Coordinator.
3. Dedicated and Expert Guidance/Advising/Supervision: This work would exist at the intersection of several different offices on campus, with direct supervision from the Small and Diverse Business Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator is a trained urban planner with a background in environmental policy, and works closely with a team of highly experienced contract attorneys and strategic sourcing experts. The student would be introduced to a wide network of MIT community members and others outside of campus working on economic justice initiatives.
4. Meaningful Intensity and Duration: There is considerable interest in this type of research right now. We could provide work for at least 80 hours, more if the student would like to explore additional channels related to supplier diversity.
5. Reflection and Evaluation: This work would require the student(s) to work at various intersections- between MIT and the City of Cambridge, between suppliers and purchasers, and between qualitative and quantitative research methods. Self-reflection is critical when one is working with such a wide variety of stakeholders, especially when navigating the power dynamics inherent to social/economic justice work. The program coordinator will help facilitate this as an on-going process, with mutual learning occurring along the way.
Potential Participants
This could be an excellent project for 1-2 student(s) interested in urban planning, geography, business, economic development, institutional management/research, or other social science/interdisciplinary areas. No prior expertise is required; this is an opportunity to explore a variety of topics based on the interest of the student and the needs of the small and diverse business program. The ELO can be tailored to accommodate any level of student, from first years to seniors considering graduate studies.
Application materials
Please include a brief cover letter describing your interest in this position, what you hope to contribute to the team, and any goals you have for your time participating in an ELO. Any previous experience in data management or interpretation, social/economic justice work, or urban planning is a plus but not necessary. Applicants will be interviewed by the Small and Diverse Business Program Coordinator and the Director of Strategic Sourcing.