Merit, excellence, and intelligence
Merit, excellence, and intelligence (MEI) is an organizational framework that emphasizes selecting candidates based solely on their merit, achievements, skills, abilities, intelligence and contributions.
Companies that have substituted their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs for MEI include: Toyota, Meta, McDonald's, Walmart, Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere, Nissan, Tractor Supply Company, Amazon, and Boeing.[citation needed]
History
[edit]The acronym of merit, excellence, and intelligence (MEI) was coined by Alexandr Wang, cofounder and CEO of Scale AI in a June 2024 blog post named “Meritocracy at Scale”.[1][2]
We hire only the best person for the job, we seek out and demand excellence, and we unapologetically prefer people who are very smart, […] We treat everyone as an individual. We do not unfairly stereotype, tokenize, or otherwise treat anyone as a member of a demographic group rather than as an individual.
— Alexandr Wang, Meritocracy at Scale
While DEI opponents have praised his stance, Wang in his blog post said that he "strongly disagree[s]" with there being any conflict between meritocracy and diversity.[1]
Criticism
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Statements critical of merit, excellence, and intelligence (MEI) include:
- While DEI experts all support hiring the best person for the job, and agreed with Wang's ideas of broadly searching for talent and using objective hiring standards, many DEI advocates feel that no one is completely free from bias, and that prioritizing meritocracy will lead to hiring managers hiring people who are similar to themselves.[1]
- Overlooking “systemic barriers that persist […]” and “marginalizing those who do not fit into a homogeneous, heteronormative mold.”[3]
- Being a “B.S.” philosophy that is pervasive “among some white men in power who believe they deserve their privilege.”[4]
- Merit not having a universal definition.[4]
- Seena Hodges, a DEI consultant, stated that “Saying that you hire for merit, excellence, and intelligence is really saying that historically underrepresented people are not worthy”.[5][6]
- Haje Jan Kamps described MEI as “the newest wave of stupidity”.[7]
See also
[edit]- Achievement ideology
- Civil service entrance examination
- Discrimination of excellence
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
- EU Concours
- Executive Order 14151
- Human resources
- Meritocracy
- Social mobility
- Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard
References
[edit]- ^ a b c McGlauflin, Paige (2024-06-24). "Elon Musk and other DEI critics are latching on to 'MEI,' a new hiring catchphrase that experts say misses the point". Fortune.
- ^ "Scale is a meritocracy, and we must always remain one. | Scale". scale.com. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Goodall, Cerys. "Why DEI Matters More Than Ever In The Face Of MEI". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ a b Mallick, Mita (2024-02-07). "POV: Elon Musk thinks MEI is great. I think it's B.S." Fast Company. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Borges, Alexandre (2024-07-27). "Mérito, excelência e inteligência, o coquetel anti-woke no trabalho". O Antagonista (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Borchers, Callum (2024-07-25). "Merit, Excellence and Intelligence: An Anti-DEI Approach Catches On". WSJ. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Kamps, Haje Jan (2024-06-28). "DEI? More like 'common decency' — and Silicon Valley is saying 'no thanks'". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
External links
[edit]- Meritocracy at Scale (Alexandr Wang, blog post, June 13, 2024)
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