...Feature articles Workplace diversity: developing a win-win-win strategy Joan Marques iversity as a topic earns more attention today than it has ever received before, and the reasons are easily understandable: global migration is increasing, the internet is enabling communication on a worldwide scale, and business leaders are continuously in search for less expensive resources and lower wages to pay. All these trends result in progressively diversified workforces locally and internationally. D Joan Marques is Instructor, Business and Management, Woodbury University, Burbank, California, USA. Increasingly, companies allocate special room for diversity practices on their web sites. Yet, there are some interesting observations that may not necessarily be new, but should nevertheless regularly be brought to the attention of business leaders. Why? So that they can keep track of the best way to develop and implement diversity in their organizations. Let us briefly look at the right reasons and the right way, beginning with the right reasons. The right reasons Often, organizations pride themselves in implementing diversity in order to accommodate customers. But there is only limited reason to be proud of this way of bringing diversity to the workplace. What these companies overlook is that they apply diversity only as a means toward an end, not as an end in itself: B They apply diversity with the primary mindset of profits. They reach out to their customers, but do not...
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...Abstract Diversity encompasses characteristics that categorizes individuals and allows for self-identification. Diversity presents itself in two different forms, visible and invisible. Those that are visible forms of diversity include ones physical appearance, sex, race, age, ethnicity, speech patterns and language. Those that are nonvisible include characteristics such as religion, national origin, illness and sexual orientation (Clair 2005). When discussing diversity in the work environment, most often times they are discussing the outward, visible characteristics, however invisible social identities are common in the workplace. Gender is one of the most common viewed issues when looking at diversity in the workplace. The glass ceiling and equality issues are analyzed and discussed frequently. Discoveries have been made that support the idea that woman should be on more Boards and should be making more decisions on allocations of monies. This paper seeks to address how diversity impacts an organization and how managers can make diversity work for them. Introduction According to Gibson, Ivancevich, Donnelly, and Konopaske (2012), Diversity is a term that describes the cultural, ethnic and racial differences in a population. A more comprehensive definition by Gibson et al (2012) indicates that diversity is “an array of physical and cultural differences that constitute the spectrum of human attributes. There are six dimensions of diversity which include: age...
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...workplace diversity. The reasons why Xerox should be motivated to diversify their workforce is more talent will be employed at Xerox if employees of all cultures and race are hired because diversity is a key to achieving critical business results. Furthermore, there will be more knowledge sharing employees can share cultural traits, market demographics and help develop companies develop robust knowledge management and market intelligence systems that create productive people and an innovative company by recognizing and respecting diversity and empowering individuality. Enhanced Productivity by processing varied skills, competencies and capabilities of different races and cultures, Xerox can increase its productivity worldwide (Xerox) that will make them a prominent player despite the economic slowdown in technology spending. Reduced Discrimination at Xerox woman and minorities make up for 52% of the workforce and 42.5% of Xerox senior executives are women or people of color or both (Xerox). This motivates employees in a way that they feel like they appreciated and valued. Besides, its make them challenge each other’s underlying assumptions, freeing everybody from convention and orthodoxy. Xerox has strict discrimination policies as well. With the inclusion of women in the workforce, Xerox developed a form of “flex time” that allowed for a better work/home life balance which has increased productivity which clearly shows how Xerox shows its values workplace diversity. They also...
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...Short Essay | Diversity in the Workplace | How it can create business related advantages | | Madison Roney: 7660183 | 5/15/2013 | | In modern western society, the diversification of culture has increased dramatically in recent years. With this shift, along with the growing competitiveness of the labor market, corporations have been forced to hire more employees who are not familiar with the spoken language or societal norms present in western culture. Many corporations, as much as 80% according to equity activist Trevor Wilson, consider cultural barriers to be a burden on their managers and fellow employees. As a result, these corporations fail to treat their employees equitably. (Hayes, 1999). One could argue, however, that the diversification of employees within the workplace has various business related benefits such as improved efficiency, bottom line revenue, and relationships formed with co-workers, managers and customers alike. However, to ensure its success, principles of transformational leadership must be used on the part of managers and various challenges must be overcome in order for these benefits to take full effect. This is not the first time in Canada's history where ethnic equality in the workplace has been a subject of interest. In 1993 the New Democratic Party in Ontario, whom was the provincial government at the time, enacted an employment equity law to ensure fair employment opportunities to workers from select minority groups. This legislation...
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...organization makes good business sense for both for profit and not for profit companies. Creating a diverse workforce provides tremendous opportunities for organizations and individuals to tap into the ideas, creativity and potential contributions inherent in a diverse work force. The composition of America’s workforce is changing. According to the census Bureau, nonwhite will represent more than one-third of the U. S. population by the year 2010 and close to half of the U. S. population by the ear 2050. By the year 2005, the ethnic minority share of the workforce will reach 28 percent. It is also projected that the Hispanic-American population will be the largest minority group in the U. S. by the year 2010. In order for companies to fully and aggressively compete in the marketplace, they will need to consider these statistics and work towards attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce. This will be critical if they are to survive. They will also need to recognize that the market they cater to is becoming more diverse. Diverse groups are a growing percentage of the buying power in the United States. In order to maintain competitive advantage in the sector they serve, organizations will need to truly understand its customers, clients, members and employees and will need to create an organizational climate that is welcoming to all. The Birth of the Diversity Movement The “Diversity” Movement was born in 1987...
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...qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer...
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...The Value of Diversity in the Workplace MGMT 512 August 6, 2015 “One of the signs of a truly educated people, and a broadly educated nation, is lack of prejudice.” - Dr. Charles H. Mayo As the world grows smaller and more connected through increases in technology such as the internet, accessibility to international travel, and opening of global markets, companies are tasked with creating diversity and inclusion policies. Diversity and inclusion policies are necessary because people/customers, employees, organizations and companies all want to draw upon this vast array of people to conduct and enhance their businesses. It is important for companies to reflect the “look” of the populations they serve through business due to the many advantages that will positively affect their companies. A diversity policy can improve a company’s quality of employees, increase comfort level from the consumers it serves, improve cost reductions through fewer employee issues, augment creativity, problem solving and decision making; and boost goodwill with stakeholders (Collins, 2009). In regard to developing a diversity and/or inclusion statement there are many frameworks to study before crafting a policy for an organization. One example from a biblical perspective is from the Book of Genesis, the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors (Leadership Bible, 2013) which correlates to Dr. Martin Luther King’s letter from Birmingham Jail, on April 16, 1963 regarding the image of...
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...Value of Diversity in the Workplace Carolina Silva Soc/315 April 11, 2011 Ashraf Esmail Value of Diversity in the Workplace Introduction In the active times that we are living now, every company faces challenges that could be better handled if a diverse environmental workplace is put into play. Some issues may arise leaving some of the protagonists defenseless and the majority of the time unable to deal with the daunting situation at hand. Diversity is one of the most useful tools that any company at any point in time could ever possibly used, due to the fact that trends of growth in the population—in the US particularly—is becoming more diverse than ever. “Diversity in the workplace is about learning from different groups enabling a Company to benefit from the diverse perspectives and achievements.” (Cornell University ILR School, 2009) I am a real estate agent and a few years ago when I first started working my profession as a realtor in Florida, I joined a big franchise to get acquainted with the market and to make a name in the business. As a big franchise, one of the duties of the realtor is to stay at least one day in the office to provide information and to help any walk-in client that might happen to walk in. On one occasion, I was the one doing “floor duty” when a middle-aged Korean couple sat and waited for me at the office. I welcomly introduced myself, asking “How may I assist you?” Beyond obviously looking for a place to live they mentioned how they would...
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...reach success. Office Depot has developed competencies to increase and maintain employee motivation. As stated previously, employee motivation as a direct impact on employee performance and their productivity. Competency 1: Job Performance (Diversity) Office Depot possesses a fundamental and positive responsibility to ensuring workplace diversity. “Globalization is fast changing the demographic mix of workforce in organizations across countries. Therefore the concept of diversity and its management become imperative. Diversity management (DM) is planning and implementing organizational systems and practices to manage people so that the potential advantages of diversity are maximized while its potential disadvantages are minimized” (Preeti, 2016). Diversity promotes employee motivation as it shows employees that Office Depot is committed to the progression and successful of their staff. According to Office Depot, “At Office Depot, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all people are valued and respected. Diversity is an important dimension of Inclusion, Innovation, and Customer Focus -- three of our core values -- and keys to our success in a global marketplace.” (Office Depot, 2016) When organizations promote diversity in the workplace, productivity and positive attitudes increases as it allows for different prospective and boost morale within employees. Competency 2: Behavioral (Employee Engagement) Employee engagement is one of the most...
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...together on a goal. Some of the differences which can be enumerated between the terms team and group are as follows: The strength of the team relies on the fact that the members of a team have similarities in the purpse and there is interconnectively between the individuals members and on the other hand the group is larger in number. The group’s strength could be assessed from the fact that they need to be willing to execute the commands of a leader. Workplace diversity refers to the mixture of differences between people within an organization. This may sound simple but diversity includes race, gender, ethinic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, education and background are naming a few. Diversity involved how people look at themselves and others. Those perceptions have an effect on their interactions. Diversity will increase greatly over the years to come. Only successful organizations will recognize the need for immediate action and are willing to manage diversity in their workplace…now! The success and competitiveness depends on the organizations ability to embrace...
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...Chapter 12: Managing Diversity in the Workplace The Chancellor's Committee on Diversity defines Diversity as: "The variety of experiences and perspective which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, mental or physical abilities, heritage,age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics." So why is it when many people think of diversity, they think first of ethnicity and race, and then gender? Diversity is much broader. Diversity is otherness or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong, yet present in other individuals and groups. It's important to understand how these dimensions affect performance, motivation, success, and interactions with others. Institutional structures and practices that have presented barriers to some dimensions of diversity should be examined, challenged, and removed. A good starting-point for thinking about diversity is to become familiar with UC’s systemwide Non-Discrimination Statement: “It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with the University of California on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran. This policy applies to all employment...
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...The textbook defines diversity as “the human characteristics that make people different from one another” (Gomez, 2010). It may also be defined as “valuing all the ways we are similar and different” (Reese 2009, p. 53). 1. First, should he or others attempt to respond to negative reactions to the composition of the new EC? What should they say? To whom? When? How? It would be wise for Voser to get in front of the negativity voiced by some members of the organization before it festers into discontent and organizational tension. “Voser did not think it appropriate to measure his commitment to diversity and inclusion by looking only at the group of eight people at the very top of Shell” (Sucher 2020, p.1). It is important that Voser points out that the creation of the new Executive Committee (EC) does not represent the efforts of the organization to be both diverse and inclusive. He should reaffirm throughout the ranks that the mission will continue to be diversity and an atmosphere that encourages inclusion. It is pretty obvious from reading the case that the committee does not adequately reflect the culture that has been devised within the Royal Dutch Shell Company. I feel that it is important that this issue of negativity be dealt with and not overlooked. If left unattended it could lead to distrust, skepticism, and low morale amongst the employees. It should be handled properly and promptly before the situation becomes critical. As a new CEO, Voser needs to quickly clarify...
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...April 08, 2012 DIVERSITY AUDIT Company Highlights Merck and Company, Inc., a pharmaceutical leader, has a clear vision which is to make a difference in the lives of people globally through their innovative medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, consumer health and animal products. The company’s core strength is the skill, integrity and creativity of its people. Merck employees, while remarkably diverse in background, training and life experiences, are all motivated by innovation and their mission of providing products that save and improves lives around the world. Under the leadership of Kenneth C. Frazier, who serves a threefold role: Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merck and Company reflects its corporate values and guides in day-to-day decision making. Merck recognizes that the world is changing and they have to keep up with the changing demands. The company’s vision is “a commercially sustainable business that both increase the accessibility of products globally and helps build local capacity for quality, healthcare services for those who need them most. Background Merck and Company is an innovative, global healthcare leader that is committed to improving health and well-being around the world. Merck and Company is a very unique leader in its diversity outlook. The company, sort of like IBM, encourages diversity through their employees by: Diversity Acknowledges...
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...Diversity Defined Diversity is generally defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and public assistance status (Esty, et al., 1995). The CIPD (2011) argues that managing diversity involves recognizing the differences in people and valuing, respecting and using these differences to support business performance. The world’s increasing globalization requires more interaction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds than ever before. People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are now part of a worldwide economy with competition coming from nearly every continent. For this reason, profit and non-profit organizations need diversity to become more creative and open to change. Maximizing and capitalizing on workplace diversity has become an important issue for management today. About DTTL’s commitment to diversity and inclusion DTTL was a founding signatory to UN Women's Empowerment Principles (WEP), launched by the United Nations Women and the United Nations Global Compact. DTTL is also a member of the IM WEP Leadership Group, which was created to help further promote the principles. DTTL and its member firms also contribute to the ongoing diversity and inclusion dialogue via thought leadership. This year, the DTTL Center for Corporate Governance issued...
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...This paper will provide insight to who I am as a learner, my strengths, areas of research interest as well as my interest of exploration in reference to the doctoral process. I consider myself to be an everlasting, lifelong learner and I have the yearning to want to broaden and deepen my skills. While the master’s degree I attain did not land me my job of choice, I feel that a more advanced degree will. I dream that the next job that I have will be a job that I consider to be interesting, stimulating and challenging all at once. I’m not one that likes to live with regrets. I don’t want to live my life saying, “what if”. At this juncture I have the mental fortitude to keep going. One of my strengths is the ability to manage the time that it will take to do the leg work to attain this degree. I understand that the road will not be a crystal staircase, but one with bumps, potholes, dark places and unknown territory. Another strength is the ability to prioritize my workload. At this point, I understand what needs to be done; and I understand that it has to be planned in a timely fashion or things will not get done. I also bring the strength of being motivated. Motivation has brought me to this point. I realize that I have be motivated in order to get things done to complete a degree that I’m investing my time and spending my hard earned money. Those factors alone keep me motivated to move ahead. On the other hand, I need stamina and...
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