Managing Diversity in the Workplace

1891 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of diversity in organizations

"We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion."

-- Max de Pree

Workplaces today have become increasingly diverse with employees of different genders, races, cultures, ethnic origins, and lifestyles. Changes in the cultural make-up of organizations have been so vast that it has become imperative for leaders and supervisors to understand cultural diversity and how it can affect their organization. By understanding how this diversity can affect their organization, leaders are taking steps to assure a conflict-free environment and are helping promote positive outcomes for the business, as well as its employees. “Diversity today is being viewed as a key means to strengthen the human capital of an organization and improve overall performance” (Bowes, 2007/2008). Studies have shown that diverse workforces can positively affect and strengthen the organization, but what can organizations do to assure this type of environment? What programs or tools do leaders need to implement when looking to improve their ability to manage this diversity?

The main purpose of this research paper will be to explore what methods organizations and leaders can use to successfully manage increased cultural diversity within the workforce. This research will reflect not only why it is important for organizations to embrace the differences in a diverse workplace, but will discuss the consequences that may occur if they do not incorporate effective methods for addressing a multicultural population. A clear discussion of the educational tools used in this project ...

... middle of paper ...

...y and its impact on the interaction level within the nursing workforce. Dissertation Abstracts, DAI-B 67/12, Jun 2007 (AAT 3246919), Abstract. Web. 15 May. 2015.

http://proquest.umi.com/?did=1253511131&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=13118&RQ

Hendricks, E. (2005, November 6). It’s Good for Business: Diversity: helps companies better serve customers. The Provience, p. A.42. Web. 21 May. 2015.

http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/?did=923079241&sid=3&Fmt=3&clientId=13118&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Spiers, C. (2008, Summer). The Business Benefits of Diversity. Management Services, 52(2), 26, 5pgs. Web. 18 May. 2015.

http://proquest.umi.com/?did=1507581611&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=13118&RQT=309&Vname=PQD.

Walton, S. J., M.A. (1993, May). Cultural Diversity: An asset, Not a Liability. R & D Innovator, 2(5), 37. Web. 27 May. 2015.

http://www.au.af.mil/////c.pdf

Show More
Related

  • Critical Analysis: Understanding Religion in the Workplace

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cañas, K. A., & Sondak, H. (2014). Opportunities and challenges of workplace diversity: Theory, cases, and exercises (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

    Read More

  • Successful Management of a Diverse Workforce

    2428 Words  | 5 Pages

    Being successful at managing workforce diversity involves attracting and retaining the highest quality individuals in the talent pool. For managers it means learning how to manage human potential sensitively. It requires an ever-increasing awareness of how people from different backgrounds deal with authority, communication, overall business etiquette, and relate to their communities of affiliation. Successful management of workforce diversity is a process that takes place in many stages and on many levels. It requires managers to first recruit a competent and qualified staff, then to accommodate individual needs within the context of the work team and the organization.

    Read More

  • Ethical Leadership and Diversity

    1169 Words  | 3 Pages

    Schein in his book “Organizational Culture and Leadership” explains how different believes and behaviors start to be logical when we understand their cultures by stating “When we learn to see the world through cultural lenses, all kinds of things begin to make sense that initially were mysterious, frustrating, or seemingly stupid” (2010, p. 13). This kind of foresight should be the starting point in order to manage the tremendously growing diversity in the workforce nowadays. Leaders and administrators of both public and private organizations through their influence are responsible to promote and manage diversity in an ethical manner.

    Read More

  • Human Resource Strategies Proposal

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    This document will explore what a company can do to foster diversity in the workplace. The business case highlights the development and implementation of organizational initiatives that could:

    Read More

  • Informative Essay: Carp Angling

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    Carp Angling Have you ever thought to yourself "I wish I could go back in time knowing what I know now? " There would undoubtedly be things you would have done differently, chances you would have taken, and probably some you wouldn't have. Think about this in your carp angling, how good would it have been to be the first to use sweetcorn like Chris Yates at Redmire, or the first on the hair rig like Len Middleton and Kevin Maddocks. Well a few years ago I realised that a lot of what was 'new' in carp angling, had in fact simply been reinvented or even just repackaged, particularly with regards to some of the methods and baits being written about.

    Read More

  • The Value of Workplace Diversity

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    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).

    Read More

  • Cultural Competency in the Workplace

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today’s management in the workforce is composed of all types of people verses thirty years ago when white males held a majority of upper-management positions in companies. These positions are now held by a mixture of ethnic back grounds and women who hold just as many if not more management positions then men. Just by looking at the changes in management demographics shows how important it is for people to understand cultural competency in the workplace. Dr. Roosevelt Thomas Jr. (1999) stated, “Diversity is the collective mixture of whomever we have in our workforce characterized by their differences and similarities” (p.11). Managers and supervisors must understand the characteristics of a diversity mature individual; they also need to be able to articulate the differences between affirmative action, managing diversity, understanding and valuing diversity to build skills that transforms awareness into productive and supportive workplace behaviors.

    Read More

  • Diversity and Inclusion

    1109 Words  | 3 Pages

    Diversity and inclusion should also apply to humans; by bringing people together who are different, it can create a whole that is enhanced by the uniqueness of each individual. What are the dimensions of cultural diversity? In this week’s readings, the subject of dimensions of cultural diversity were covered comprehensively in both books. Understanding and Managing Diversity presented a nicely laid out illustration. Primary Dimensions Secondary Dimensions Age Geographic Location Gender Military & Work Experience.

    Read More

  • Organizational Change

    1536 Words  | 4 Pages

    Gonzalea, R. & Pollar, O., (2001). Dynamics of diversity: Strategic programs for your organization. Menlo Park, Crisp Publications Inc.

    Read More

  • Gender Diversity in the Workplace

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    Barak, M. E. (2005). Managing diversity: toward a globally inclusive workplace. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.

    Read More

  • Managing Ethnic Diversity in the Workplace

    2701 Words  | 6 Pages

    For the purpose of this paper, I will define what the term Diversity means, and then I will concentrate on the diversity as a result of geographic origin or ethnic diversity. I will look at how ethnic diversity is managed generally and then how my employer, deals with the diverse ethnic groups in its organization and what it needs to improve on.

    Read More

  • Diversity Management

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Globalization and Diversity in the Workplace

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    Diversity is a highly important issue in today’s business, especially in a globalized company. Workplace diversity helps to get better solutions to business problems (Schawbel, 2012). When you have a group of individ...

    Read More

  • Leadership In A Culturally Diverse Environment Analysis

    1590 Words  | 4 Pages

    Leadership in a Culturally Diverse Environment The concept of effective leadership, in combination with culturally diverse organizations, continues to gain momentum and interests. The growing multicultural workforce environment offers the potential for unveiling cultural differences through communication avenues, leadership methods, and varying perspectives regarding assumptions such as time management (Yih-teen, & Yuan, 2015). Therefore, organizations endeavor to find ways to combat manageable differences and to capitalize on the multicultural talent by establishing tolerant, knowledgeable, and collaborative work environments.

    Read More

  • Diversity In The Workplace

    1428 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the challenges organizations face today is obtaining and retaining human capital while evolving parallel to the continuous changes within our society and diversity in the workforce. (Bohlander & Snell, 2013) Maak & Pless (2004) suggests that the challenges are not based on compliance with legislation, but rather organizations’ ability to embrace and utilize its diverse workforce to the advantage of achieving organizational goals. (as cited in Sabharwal, 2014) In-groups and out-groups can create an inclusion-exclusion continuum and discrimination in the workplace. However, if an organization promotes inclusion (i.e. allowing employees to influence organizational decisions), and supports cultural differences by utilizing employees

    Read More

More about Managing Diversity in the Workplace

Open Document