The Challange of Cultural Diversity in Corporate America
The expanding conflict over cultural diversity
in corporate America may present as many opportunities
and problems as affirmative action. Today, cultural
diversity is an important fact of life and business,
due to the changing face of society, and therefore,
the work place. It is growing ever more essential for
people to interact with others outside of their racial,
ethical, religious, regional, social, etc. boundaries.
To stay on top of their competitors, corporations must
change their approach, and see diversity not as a necessary
evil, but as a source of enrichment and opportunity
that may bring a wealth of benefits to the company.
In an examination of the U.S. workplace and
specifically looking at management positions, it is
clearly evident that minorities are "under"
represented. The reasons behind this seem to vary
depending on which point of view it is looked at.
Some argue that minorities "haven't been in the labor
pool long enough to work [their way] up". It is
ridiculous to believe this because there are plenty
of qualified minorities for any of those jobs.(1)
Others argue that "minority employees don't know the
rules that allow one to 'win' in the corporate 'game'".
If this is true, then what is keeping them from
learning these "rules" and what can be done to teach
them?(2) While these reasons may hold some truth, it is
also, as proven time after time in this country's
media, a matter of race and/or gender.
There is an inherit distrust on the part of
today's managers (typically white males who grew up
with little exposure to people from other cultures)
in the abilities of others outside of the white, male
work-forc...
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...of this society and this country. "Understand
that over the long term, the successful manager is
going to have to deal with large numbers of minorities
and women in business, and [it is] presume[d] most
managers want to be successful, want their company to
be successful. Therefore, don't walk away from
[diversity], walk up to it".(8)
1 Copeland, (June, 1988), pg. 53
2 Copeland, (July, 1988), pg. 44
3 Copeland, (June, 1988), pg. 54
4 Copeland, (June, 1988), pg. 54
5 Copeland, (July, 1988), pg. 45
6 Copeland, (June, 1988), pg. 53
7 Copeland, (June, 1988), pg. 54
8 Copeland, (July, 1988), pg. 49
Bibliography:
Copeland, Lennie (1988, Jun). "Making the Most of
Cultural Differences at the Workplace", Personnel,
pp. 52 - 54
Copeland, Lennie (1988, July). "Valuing Diversity,
Part 2: Pioneers and Champions of Change", Personnel,
pp. 44 - 49
Cañas, K. A. & Sondak, H. (2011). Opportunities and challenged for workplace diversity: Theory, cases, and exercises. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.
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