Managing Diversity 1

8/9/2019 Managing Diversity 1

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ManagingManaging

DiversityDiversity


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What Is Diversity?What Is Diversity?

Although definitions vary, diversity simply refers toAlthough definitions vary, diversity simply refers tohuman characteristics that make people differenthuman characteristics that make people differentfrom one anotherfrom one another

Individual characteristics over which a person hasIndividual characteristics over which a person haslittle or no control include biologically determinedlittle or no control include biologically determinedcharacteristics such as race, sex, age, and certaincharacteristics such as race, sex, age, and certainphysical attributes, as well as the family and societyphysical attributes, as well as the family and societyinto which he or she is born.into which he or she is born.

It is important to keep in mind the distinctionIt is important to keep in mind the distinctionbetween the sources of diversity and the diversitybetween the sources of diversity and the diversityitself. Without this distinction, stereotyping tends toitself. Without this distinction, stereotyping tends tooccur.occur.


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Diversity in OrganizationsDiversity in Organizations

African AmericansAfrican Americans

WomenWomen

Asian AmericansAsian Americans

Older workersOlder workers

Latinos (Hispanic Americans)Latinos (Hispanic Americans)

People with disabilitiesPeople with disabilities The foreign bornThe foreign born

HomosexualsHomosexuals


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Glass CeilingGlass Ceiling

Old Boys Network:Old Boys Network:An informal social andAn informal social and

business network of highbusiness network of high--level malelevel male

executives that typically excludes womenexecutives that typically excludes women

and minorities. Access to the old boysand minorities. Access to the old boysnetwork is often an important factor innetwork is often an important factor in

career advancement.career advancement.


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The set of activities involved inThe set of activities involved in

integrating nontraditional employeesintegrating nontraditional employees

(women and minorities) into the work(women and minorities) into the work

force and using their diversity to the firmsforce and using their diversity to the firms

competitive advantage.competitive advantage.

Management of DiversityManagement of Diversity


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Diversity as an AssetDiversity as an Asset

Greater creativityGreater creativity. Employee diversity can stimulate. Employee diversity can stimulate

consideration of less obvious alternatives.consideration of less obvious alternatives.

Better problem solvingBetter problem solving. Homogenous groups are. Homogenous groups areprone to a phenomenon called groupthink, in whichprone to a phenomenon called groupthink, in which

all members quickly converge on a mistaken solutionall members quickly converge on a mistaken solution

because they share the same mindset and view thebecause they share the same mindset and view the

problem through the lens of conformity.problem through the lens of conformity.

Greater system flexibilityGreater system flexibility. In todays rapidly. In todays rapidly

changing business environments, flexibility is anchanging business environments, flexibility is an

important characteristic of successful firms.important characteristic of successful firms.


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Challenges in Managing EmployeeChallenges in Managing Employee

DiversityDiversityValuing Employee DiversityValuing Employee Diversity In some ways, the idea that diversity is good runsIn some ways, the idea that diversity is good runs

counter to the melting pot tradition.counter to the melting pot tradition.

Individual versus Group FairnessIndividual versus Group Fairness How far should management go in adapting HRHow far should management go in adapting HR

programs to diverse employee groups?programs to diverse employee groups?Universal Concept of Management:Universal Concept of Management: The managementThe managementconcept holding that all management practices should beconcept holding that all management practices should be

standardized.standardized.Cultural Relativity Concept of ManagementCultural Relativity Concept of Management: The: Themanagement concept holding that management practicesmanagement concept holding that management practicesshould be molded to the different sets of values, beliefs,should be molded to the different sets of values, beliefs,attitudes, and behaviors exhibited by a diverse work force.attitudes, and behaviors exhibited by a diverse work force.


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DiversityDiversityResentmentResentment In a vast majority of U.S. organizations, equalIn a vast majority of U.S. organizations, equal

employment opportunity (EEO) was a forced changeemployment opportunity (EEO) was a forced changerather than a voluntary one.rather than a voluntary one.

BacklashBacklash While women and minorities may view a firm's culturalWhile women and minorities may view a firm's cultural

diversity policy as a commitment to improving theirdiversity policy as a commitment to improving theirchances for advancement, white men may see it as achances for advancement, white men may see it as athreat.threat.


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DiversityDiversity

RetentionRetention The job satisfaction levels of women andThe job satisfaction levels of women and

minorities are often lower than those of whiteminorities are often lower than those of whitemen.men.

Competition for OpportunitiesCompetition for Opportunities As minority populations grow in the U.S.,As minority populations grow in the U.S.,

competition for jobs and opportunities is likelycompetition for jobs and opportunities is likelyto become much stronger.to become much stronger.


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Improving the Management ofImproving the Management of

DiversityDiversity

Adopt an inclusive definition of diversity thatAdopt an inclusive definition of diversity thataddresses all kinds of differences amongaddresses all kinds of differences among

employees, including (but not limited to) raceemployees, including (but not limited to) raceand gender.and gender.

Make sure that top management is not onlyMake sure that top management is not onlycommitted to establishing a diversity programcommitted to establishing a diversity program

but also communicates that commitmentbut also communicates that commitmentdirectly to all employees.directly to all employees.


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DiversityDiversity

Diversity training programs: Programs thatDiversity training programs: Programs thatprovide diversity awareness training andprovide diversity awareness training and

educate employees on specific cultural and sexeducate employees on specific cultural and sexdifferences and how to respond to these in thedifferences and how to respond to these in theworkplace.workplace. Avoid oneAvoid one--shot training efforts that stir up emotionsshot training efforts that stir up emotions

without channeling them in productive directions.without channeling them in productive directions.Use ongoing training that encompasses diversity asUse ongoing training that encompasses diversity asonly one facet of needed change in the corporateonly one facet of needed change in the corporateculture.culture.


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DiversityDiversity

Support Groups: A group established by anSupport Groups: A group established by an

employer to provide a nurturing climate foremployer to provide a nurturing climate for

employees who would otherwise feel isolatedemployees who would otherwise feel isolatedor alienated.or alienated.

Accommodation of family needs:Accommodation of family needs: Day CareDay Care

Alternative work patternsAlternative work patternsSenior mentoring programsSenior mentoring programs

ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships


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DiversityDiversity

Communication standardsCommunication standards

Organized activitiesOrganized activities

Diversity auditsDiversity audits A review of the effectiveness of an organizationsA review of the effectiveness of an organizations

diversity management program.diversity management program.

Management responsibility and accountabilityManagement responsibility and accountability


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Some WarningsSome Warnings

Avoid the promotion of stereotypesAvoid the promotion of stereotypes

Dont confuse diversity with EqualDont confuse diversity with EqualEmployment OpportunityEmployment Opportunity

Dont confuse diversity with performanceDont confuse diversity with performance

Managing Diversity 1

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