...Assess the importance of diversity management, conflict resolution and EEO legislation, focusing on the importance of productive diversity in the service industry. Diversity is the way in which people differ from each other in regards to; gender, age, language, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, family responsibilities, disabilities, life experiences, educational background, work experience, marital status and personality (Study Guide, 2011, pg. 52). Diversity in the workplace can be a great strength for an organisation if managed effectively if management make good use of each individual’s values. In order for diversity to be managed effectively and used to the organisations advantage, people-management strategies need to be put in place in order to allow for these differences and allow for people to grow upon them in the organisations favour. Being open to each individuals differences, allows for new ideas to come to light and to be welcoming of different ways of going about tasks. There can however, be issues that arise such as legal implications in regards to discrimination. Discrimination can occur via both indirect and direct means. This is corrected via legislations against the illegal mistreatment and discrimination of employees. Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) legislations were introduced in order to free all workplaces of discrimination and harassment. Equality and diversity can be thought of in terms of legal aspects, ethical...
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...Running head: THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE 1 The Importance of Diversity in the Workforce Michael O. Russell Southern New Hampshire University THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERISTY IN THE WORKFORCE 2 Abstract The basis of this study is to describe the importance of having a diverse age difference in today’s workforce. It will also describe how age discrimination, in particular with elderly people, presents challenges to organizations. It will also describe what policies and practices management my use to alleviate these challenges, and how continuity in the workforce is important for future generations of workers as the workforce continues to age. THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE 3 The Importance of Diversity in the Workforce With an uncertain economy and the rising cost of living, more and more senior personnel who are eligible for retirement are staying in the workforce instead of retiring at the traditional age that generations before them did. This is not just happening in the United States, it is happening all around the world. As Robbins stated, “U.S. legislation has, for all intents and purposes, outlawed mandatory retirement. Most workers today no longer have to retire at age 70, and 62 percent of those aged 45 to 60 plan to delay retirement” (Robbins, pg 46). The fact that people are foregoing the traditional age of retirement forces management to focus on ways to create a diverse atmosphere...
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...Hershey's Sweet Mission Strayer University Human Resource Management Foundation HRM 500 Dr. Brett Gordon April 20, 2011 Hershey's Sweet Mission Introduction There has clearly been an evolution of the workforce as we knew it. There have been a number of factors that have contributed to these changes. Some of which are changes in the economy, company restructuring, globalization and technology. The changes in the workforce have led to the complete revision in the culture of some organizations. Now let’s take a look at some of the changes we have seen within the workforce. One major shift that we see in the modernized workforce is a change in demographics. There has been an increase in diversity of the workforce including age, race, ethnicity and gender. Another difference we have seen is the change in skills required to perform jobs. Technology has played a role in changing the way jobs are performed, the length of time it takes to complete a job, and the knowledge required to do the job. Organizations have had to find ways to manage the changes in the workforce in order to remain competitive in today’s marketplace. In this paper we will look at the Hershey Company, and ways that it has utilized to help manage these changes. We will look at ways to redesign Hershey’s performance management system to include diversity. We will also look at Hershey’s value system particularly focusing on how employees could interpret them in relation to their...
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...THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF KNOWLEDGE, CULTURE AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT Madrid, Spain Diversity Assessment Tools: A Comparison Abstract: Much has been written about how to address diversity in the human resources function (recruitment, retention, professional development etc.) but less has been written about how to develop strategies to leverage diversity in other areas. This study proposes an approach to exploring diversity through the value chain and a tool to help an organization assess its strategy. The Diversity Audit Tool (DAT) was developed from an analysis of current diversity practices in the Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Sector in Canada. This paper will review the dimensions of the tool and compare it to six other diversity lenses. Keywords: Diversity assessment, diversity audit tool, diversity lens, “business” case for diversity. Increasingly corporations in Canada have stressed the importance of embracing diversity and have stressed the benefits of creating inclusive work environments which: Promote the work of all organizational members and ensures that it is acknowledged, respected, and that employees are compensated equitably for it Value diversity both within the organization and outside of it Implement a meritocracy – rather than non-job-related ascribed characteristics – ensuring the need for equality and fairness underpins the organizational culture Emphasize individual accountability at all levels of the organization Constantly...
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...INTRODUCTION With globalisation, it is inevitable to have workforce diversity. Workforce diversity is the significance differences of each individual that distinguish them at their working environment. This report explores the study of workforce diversity and brings about an understanding of surface-level and deep-level diversity. Furthermore, the report highlights the importance of managing for diversity and explores the characteristics of both Singapore employees and expatriates. SURFACE-LEVEL DIVERSITY AND DEEP-LEVEL DIVERSITY Diversity is being characterised into surface-level and deep-level diversity. Surface-level diversity refers to the observable demographics and psychological differences that include language, culture, race, gender, ethnicity, age and physical capabilities. Deep-level diversity refers to the differences in psychological characteristics which includes personalities, beliefs, values, knowledge, experiences and attitudes. Both types of differences are evident in an individual’s decision, actions and expectations. (McShane, Olekalns & Travaglione 2010) Surface-level differences are easily noticeable and measurable as compared to deep-level differences. One of the example is the use of expatriates who are professional personnel employed outside of their home country to work or assist in another organisation. Standard Chartered is one of the organisations which embraced surface-level diversity. It operates overseas and send executive to run subsidiaries in...
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...Introduction “Diversity has become one of the most important issues of the 21st century, commanding much attention in the popular press, conferences, magazines, and the executive suite” (Hubbard ,2004). Every person is not the same and everyone have different cultures and background. Employee diversity means group of people that are different in races, genders, ages, and ethnicities working in one place. Also diversity can be the different opinion of individuals. The objective of this paper is to analyze the value and the benefits of the diversity in the workplace. The learning goals are to: Recognizing the importance of having diverse work teams. Exploring ways to enhance diversity in the workplace. Understand how important managing diversity in the workplace. Analysis “Many Organizations have expanded their recruitment efforts to attract minority candidates” (Daft ,pg. 378 ,2012).Walmart using diversity goal program hold the diversity management team accountable for elevating the standard for diversity and inclusion throughout the company. The program can impact up to 15 percent of official and senior field manager bonuses, based on their diversity goal achievement. Those achievements also account for 10 percent of annual performance evaluations for all management associates who have diversity goal. Close to 60,000 managers in US operations are accountable for meeting diversity goal. According to Walmart website (2014), Walmart...
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...UNIVERSITY OF NICOSIA SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ORGANISATIONS & HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT MBAN-609DE IKECHUKWU KINGSLEY NWAFOR R1405D126364 August 10, 2014 Page 1 of 26 Table of Contents GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................... 4 QUESTION ..................................................................................................................... 4 OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 5 HR AS A STRATEGIC PARTNER .................................................................................. 5 A GLANCE AT STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ............................. 7 VARIOUS HR STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY ORGANIZATIONS ................................. 7 Fig 1 Strategic Framework for Human Resources .......................................................... 8 LOYAL SOLDIER (INTERNAL/COST HR STRATEGY) .............................................. 8 BARGAIN LABORER (EXTERNAL/COST HR SRATEGY) ......................................... 9 COMMITTED EXPERT (INTERNAL/ DIFFERENTIATION STRATEGY) .................. 10 FREE AGENT (EXTERNAL/DIFFERENTIATION HR STRATEGY) .......................... 10 ALIGNING HR STRATEGIES WITH COMPETITIVE BUSINESS STRATEGIES ......... 11 Table 1 Compitetive strategies and HR strategies ........................................................ 11 SHRM & ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE...
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...Diversity is an aspect of life that is almost inescapable, especially in the workplace. As we go about our daily lives, we are surrounded by people and cultures that differ from what was once considered the typical American lifestyle. There are endless options of food, music and social activities allowing us a small chance to experience and explore what life is like in other countries. Businesses are also recognizing the need and importance of diversity. Many have begun investing in diversity and inclusion as part of their overall management structures. To continually challenge their practice, organizations are striving to make the connection between those principles and their corporate performance (Chaney & Martin, 2014). This paper will explore some of the key issues regarding diversity in the US and India. Cultural variations, communication and management styles will be examined for a more in depth look at the ever changing corporate environment. Cultural Variations Carol Milano (2012) with ASME.org analyzes that in the United States, especially in large cities, a “time is money” attitude is common. Often working professionals appear to be in a rush, which gives the impression that Americans tend to get down to business rather quickly. Many countries have a different perspective and work ethic, where people are not in such a hurry. They may prefer to get to know a colleague before they start working together, which reiterates the fact that teamwork is an area rich...
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...Annotated Bibliography In the essay I will argue that having a diverse heterogenic workplace has many benefits. I will be focusing on diversity in employee cultural and gender. Due to the increasingly diverse nature of Australia’s workforce, organisations will have to use strategic tactics such as successful Human Resource Planning, in order to attract, select and retain a diverse workplace. A company with employees that bring different perspectives is presented to be able in finding more efficient ways to operate and grow (Wojcik 2012). Diversity programs enhance the ability of an organisation to meet client needs, which can improve its profits (Wojcik 2012) Dwyer et.al (2001) discusses the potential benefits of gender diversity, such as novel insights, perspectives, creativity, and experience appear to foster and support expansion into new markets. Finding a similar association between racial diversity, growth, and firm performance, This insight will assist me to form an argument to why organisations should select a diverse workforce. Management teams with higher proportion of women promote more interpersonal channels of communication, employee participation in decision-making and monitor feedback and development more intensely (Melero, E 2010) Communities and consumers want to engage with and do business with organisations that reflect themselves and the current population (Lieber 2012). Attracting diverse employees to organisations has a flow on effect on the...
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...Table of Content I. Introduction 3 II. Cultural diversity 3 II.1. Advantages of cultural diversity 4 II.2. Disadvantages of cultural diversity 5 III. Organizational Culture 5 IV. Management strategies to overcome issues related to cultural diversity 7 V. Globalization 8 VI. Conclusion 9 VII. References 11 I. Introduction Immigration plays a big role in today’s business world. Especially the hospitality and tourism industry is highly affected, as this industry offers a large number of unskilled positions that can easily be provided to immigrants (Hearns, Devine & Baum, 2007). The intention of these workers who go abroad is mainly the chance to earn higher wages in the chosen foreign country (D’Netto & Sohal, 1999). According to these facts the workforce, especially in the hospitality industry, is becoming more and more diverse which can lead to either advantages or disadvantages (Kandola & Fullerton, 1998; Gröschl & Doherty, 1999; Kreitner, 2004 in Hearns, Devine & Baum, 2007). In order to overcome issues and conflicts related to cultural diversity, key authors such as Gundling & Zanchettin (2007), Primer (2000), D’Netto & Sohal (1999) , Graf (2003) and Lund (2003) have pointed out the possibility to implement diversity management strategies that help employees with the adaptation process. II. Cultural diversity Culture is a term that has many definitions in academia; Hofstede (2001) introduces culture as “the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes...
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...Importance of Understanding Culture Diversity in the Workplace Jennifer Schulz Devry University Cultural Diversity in the Professions SOCS350 William Tutol January 10, 2014 Importance of Understanding Culture Diversity in the Workplace In business today it is important to have a diverse group of employees in the workplace. Our textbook defines diversity as real or perceived differences among people in race, ethnicity, sex, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion, work and family status, weight and appearance, and other identity-based attributes that affect their interactions and relationships (Bell, 2012, p. 5). It is very important to understand the cultural, ethnical, and gender differences by professionals and management in the workforce in this day and age. If an organization develops a reputation for valuing all types of employees, it will become known as an employer of choice, in which workers from all backgrounds feel they have the opportunity to work, grow, and be treated fairly (Bell, 2012, p. 4). By being diverse in its employees, a business has a better opportunity for new ideas and growth potential and less likely to be stymied. Despite extraordinary corporate and media attention paid to diversity in the past thirty years, discrimination, inequality, and exclusion persist in organizations (Bell, 2012, p. 4). As discussed this week in class, when the department head turned down the Jamaican friend for the position, even though he seemed...
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...Cramuel Harlan Diversity Baker College 11/30/15 Diversity training is an essential part of building awareness and a cohesive work environment. Diversity is defined as the differences between people. These differences can include race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, background, socioeconomic status, and etc. Diversity training is the centerpiece of organizations. It challenges ingrained biases and is the primary driver of change in organizational culture. A workplace benefits from diversity training by having employees letting their guards down and building healthy business relationships, as well as decreasing bullying and discrimination. Therefore, diversity training is to be seen as the cornerstone of any diversity initiative and will be a natural part of an organizational program. When a company or organization decides to implement diversity training into its workplace culture, it must take proactive steps to ensure that diversity initiatives are seen as opportunities to improve the overall productivity of the company and its employees in a bias-free, diverse workplace. A company should also gain information on its learners, understanding their take on diversity. Also finding out if their targeted audience already have any stereotypes or assumptions that can be broken. The diverse nature of a company is important when implementing diversity training. When a company has cultural group of the same background it might be harder to incorporate a diversity plan oppose...
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...Critiquing the Affects of Globalization, Diversity, and Intuition on Managerial Roles Managerial roles are increasingly more challenging to fulfill with employees, projects and industries spanning across countries and boundaries. With globalization, there are business process differences to overcome, diversity with respect to organizational culture to consider, and the intuitive element is approached from gender perspective as well as its relevancy in shaping managers’ cognitive style. Global change is altering the supply chain management structure and efficiency for U. S. multinational corporations. Johnson (2006) points to five areas of importance regarding supply chain management structures: Globalization and outsourcing, including the impact of China and India on supply chain structure and coordination; new information technologies, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and tools that enable enterprise integration and collaboration; economic forces within and between supply chains, from the consumer pricing to supplier contract negotiation; risk management, including risks from supply chain complexity and from security threats; product lifecycle management, including post-sale service and product recovery (p.191-192). Even though these areas are important, Johnson (2006) underemphasized the importance and affects of cultural values and managerial philosophies on supply chain management organizations (Robbins & Judge, 2007). Anwar and Chaker (2003) demonstrated...
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...Running Head: Diversity in Organizations Diversity in Organizations Angela Alexander Organizational Behavior/BUS610 Professor Dwight Reimer May 2, 2011 Abstract Often times there are barriers within an organization. These barriers can block the advancement of organizational diversity. In order for a business to become more diverse in their market, an implementation of diversity should be done. The management team must realize the importance of the dimensions related to diversity. In an effort to make sure that a break-down does not occur, the team will need to analyze issues such as personality and organizational factors and ability. Furthermore, they will need to look into internal and external dimensions such as income, habits, status, background and experience. Several methods can be used within organizations to prevent these barriers from taken place. This paper will explore the varies methods and procedures for the analyzation of said barriers of management as it relates to diversity within an organization. In California and the Nation at large, we have a vast mixture of cultures. These cultures influence the development of our Nation’s prosperity. Most would agree that cultural diversity helps utilize our Country’s skills and growth. Although we are coming out of the mist of economic hardship, we are now in the beginnings of economic growth. Still there remains a disparity between those that have and those that don’t have. This is directly in part to the...
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...Student Self-administered case study Importance of Diversity In The Workplace Case summary: Case duration (Min): Human Resource Management (HRM) 45-60 Promoting diversity Worldwide This case focuses on DIFFERENCE ‐ Interacting and working productively with others and how best to use human resources to meet organizational goals through high levels of performance (motivated, effective and efficient workers) and competing in the global marketplace. We begin this case by exploring the changing nature of the workplace; We then explore what is meant by diversity and consider the business case for promoting and managing diversity within contemporary organizations. Learning objectives: Evaluate diversity and multiculturalism as a source of sustainable competitive advantage and identify the benefits of diversity for organizations. Case problem: What is meant by diversity and should organizations seek to be diverse? Company Aramark http://www.aramark.com/ Food ‐ Major Diversified ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award‐winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2009 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry. ARAMARK seeks to address issues responsibly that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy...
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