Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, that simply states that the diversity property of the thought is higher, not that the value property of the thought is higher. And you claimed, quote, "Why assume Group 2 has, or can produce, higher-valued thoughts?" Value of Thought and Diversity of Thought are two independent properties that can coexist independently.
>Value of Thought and Diversity of Thought are two independent properties that can coexist independently. Sure. But that's not what parent is claiming. Parent is claiming that the company that prefers to hire Group 1, values diversity of thought over diversity of skin color. The assumption there is that Group 2 can't offer that same "diversity of thought." Parent doesn't consider whether "diversity of thought" actual…
This means diversity of thought necessarily follows form the example given as it was defined as such (group 1 has diversity of thought, group 2 not).
The importance of diversity of thought can be illustrated by using machine learning; if your learning factor (diversity of thought) is too low, not all solutions are explored, instead a local minima is found and then reinforced by the ML algorithm. If the learning factor is higher then the algorithm can freely explore for other local minima and maybe even find the absolute minima. (If it's too high then you also don't get anything useful either but that's not quite the point)
Diversity of thought is important for a company that wants to make better product, if you only have people who think alike, regardless of their other properties, they will not find the best optimal solution, only a local optimal solution.