A candidate whose relative strengths were creativity and initiative is likely to be quite different than a candidate whose relative strengths were analytical and project planning skills. How one applies their knowledge, skills, and abilities can also produce a wide range of diverse outcomes. Two artists with equal artistic skills are likely to produce very different renditions of commissioned art. Similarly, two individuals with similar skill and knowledge sets are quite likely to produce different ideas or work products given the same assignment. Standard criteria will not limit diversity but recruiting practices will.
Diversity starts with recruiting.
If the applicant pool isn t diverse, then successful hires are not likely to be diverse. If you have, no doubt other people hearing the statement nodded their heads knowingly. The hiring interview has been researched for over 85 years and quite a bit of evidence has been collected. In recent years a research technique called meta-analysis has been developed. This technique allows a researcher to statistically collapse results from multiple studies into a summary result.