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Importance of managing diversity in an organisation
Case study on gender diversity in an organisation
Importance of managing diversity in an organisation
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One way to work on diversity within organizations is diversity training. According to Risberg et al. (2012) training initiatives are meant to create awareness, where the apprentices are introduced to different values, behaviors and norms in order to foster interaction with people from different backgrounds and create a certain level of tolerance. The trainings are also aimed to create skills for a diverse work environment, where the participants are prepared to face and handle diversity on a daily basis at their work places (Risberg, Beauregard, & Sander, 2012). However, the impacts of the trainings in the individuals are difficult to measure and control, since the knowledge learned is difficult to place in everyday work life. It is believed that this kind of …show more content…
Therefore, the training must be constant as individuals within the organization start to change behaviors and embrace diversity (Risberg, Beauregard, & Sander, 2012). Risberg et al. (2012) state that diversity training programs cannot be the sole foundation of diversity management; other diversity oriented programs must be in place.
Unconscious bias trainings can be beneficial for the employees to understand which mechanisms to be aware of when an organization is working towards becoming more gender diverse. Research suggest that men and women are measured differently at their workplaces (Kanter R. M., 1977). According to studies by Pollard (1999) biased reactions are unconscious, the result of stereotypical connotations where people are habitually unaware of their actions. Moreover, according to social psychology research, the regular human process of categorizing and related cognitive biases can result in and continue the individuals’ implicit dependence on stereotypes (Lee, 2005). Moule (2009) define a stereotype as a naive image or biased truth about a group or individuals according to a
Implicit Bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions unconsciously. (Kirwan, 2015) The implicit bias, which includes both favorable and unfavorable being personal, are activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or voluntary control. The implicit interaction subconscious
Cañas, K. A., & Sondak, H. (2014). Opportunities and challenges of workplace diversity: Theory, cases, and exercises (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Depending on the definition, diversity is a word that can have multiple meanings. There is truly no one answer to a word that covers a lot of territory and that is loaded with much potential. The secret behind finding “a” source of diversity is to break it down into sections. Though you might be able to address two or three aspects of diversity, there is still more layers behind it to be peeled away. Touching on several aspects at a time can only give an overview of how you wish to pursue solutions. With regards to finding solutions, you have to first become active in the task and take on responsibility of yourself to “want to do something about it for the better good.” Moran, Stueart and Morner (2013) defined diversity as “a broad term encompassing not only race, ethnicity, and gender, but also such characteristics as age and physical ability” (p. 190). Thurston (2012) reported “despite the attention paid to this issue over the past forty years, here has been little noticeable change in levels of diversity among members of the profession” (p. 360).
Dental professionals have a commitment to respect diversity and create equity of access to dental care for everyone (GDC, 2014). Diversity describes any dimension that can be used to differentiate an individual from others. It requires understanding that each individual is unique and accepting and respecting these individual differences (QCC,2013). These differences could be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, age, socio-economic status or other ideologies (QCC, 2013). Understanding the impact that these differences may pose is vital in dealing professionally with people from diverse backgrounds and delivering equal treatment for all. Equality refers to identical treatment in dealings quantitates and values (Braveman, and Gruskin, 2003). Thus, creating equality for all might not mean that there are no disparities between different groups. Equity on the other hand refers to fairness and the equality of outcomes and involves recognizing aspects of a system that may disadvantage a certain group and correcting them (Braveman, and Gruskin, 2003). Therefore, in order to overcome potential pitfalls that may create inequity to access, there is a need to explore the different factors encountered in our diverse society that may create these issues. As an example, patients from different ethnic backgrounds may be faced with barriers accounting for the less frequent use of dental care (CQC. 2010). This group will be used as an example and some of the issues behind this inequity of access will be looked at further.
Gender, racial, and ethnic diversity means different things to different people. Some believe that diversity is about quotas, and affirmative action. Others believe that diversity is something that will happen on its own with out intervention. Some experts who study diversity, however, believe that diversity is not something that should be left up to chance. It is important, therefore, for organizations to take action to encourage and foster diversity in the workplace (Clarke, 1995, p. 13).
knowingly broke the law by entering the country illegally. Another concern is that it encourages future flow of illegal immigration into the United States.
Every person their own unique attitude and beliefs that will affect their understanding of diversity, equity and democracy due to the fact that everyone is brought up differently. Diversity means range of different things, where if a person is exposed to more experiences in life, their understanding of diversity is in a much wider range. For instance, being born in a multicultural country such as Canada rather than the opposite will have a larger influence in the way of their understanding of diversity of different cultures and races. Whereas, equity means the quality of being fair and impartial. Every person is born in a different environment and lives through many different experiences. For example, a person born in a low income family, in
Merriam-Webster defines diversity as “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements; especially the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization” (Merriam-Webster, 2016). With diversity including many different elements, the concept of workplace diversity also covers a broad spectrum of topics, and continues to evolve as many companies look to expand globally. This subject has become increasingly important among managers over the last couple of decades, and has helped to reinforce other concepts such as affirmative action and equal opportunity employment. While most people believe that everyone should have the same opportunities available to them, and that we
The impact of diversity in the workplace is contingent upon several factors. Across companies diversified workforces are becoming increasingly common. To successfully manage a diverse workforce, organizations are ensuring that employees understand how their values and stereotypes influence their behavior toward others of different gender, ethnic, racial, or religious backgrounds; are gaining an appreciation of cultural differences among themselves; and behaviors that isolate or intimidate minorities are being improved (Noe et al., 2010, pg. 302).
In summary, most workplaces are becoming increasingly diverse as people from different genders, races, cultures, ethnic origins, and lifestyles find themselves working together. The key to making diversity work is management. Knowing what they are and understanding what effects (positive or negative) they have on the organization is very important to the success of the company.
The strategies that I think are important when comes to developing diversity consciousness are take an active role in education yourself. It is important to educate yourself about other cultures . This allows a person to have better understand of their co-workers’ ethic background. Another important strategy
Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organisation, Diversity comes down to acceptance, respect and understanding of one another in the workplace, even when you may disagree, you need to be understanding and try your best to relate to everyone and embrace their unique differences.
According to Kinicki, diversity represents the multitude of individual’s differences and similarities that exist among people. When developing a cultural diversity training program, one has to manage diversity with a new approach of inclusion and recognition. Managing diversity enables people to perform up to their maximum potential (Kinicki p. 111). As we analyze diversity, we will evaluate some common barriers and challenges in managing diversity. In developing a diversity program, we will analyze methods and procedures that will be apart of the program. Kinicki (p.*) says an important first step in overcoming these obstacles is for leaders to convey to their employees why the organization values diversity.
Diversity is a value that shows respect for the differences and similarities of age, sex, culture, ethnicity, beliefs and much more. Having a diverse organization, helps notice the value in other people and also how to teach respect to people that might not know how. The world is filled with different cultures and people that might believe in different things as you, but that doesn’t mean you need to treat them any different. It is imperative for people to grasp diversity because it’ll help people how to engage with others in a respectful yet a hospitable way.
Unsurprisingly, implicit bias training may be particularly successful at challenging prejudices that exist in individual’s subconscious. Simply put, its primary goal is to first acknowledge the existence of a prejudice and then attempt to use newly acquired awareness of the bias in order to challenge its effect (Mundy 69). Evidence shows that gender diversity training can have a positive impact on diversification. For instance,