...Abstract Diversity encompasses characteristics that categorizes individuals and allows for self-identification. Diversity presents itself in two different forms, visible and invisible. Those that are visible forms of diversity include ones physical appearance, sex, race, age, ethnicity, speech patterns and language. Those that are nonvisible include characteristics such as religion, national origin, illness and sexual orientation (Clair 2005). When discussing diversity in the work environment, most often times they are discussing the outward, visible characteristics, however invisible social identities are common in the workplace. Gender is one of the most common viewed issues when looking at diversity in the workplace. The glass ceiling and equality issues are analyzed and discussed frequently. Discoveries have been made that support the idea that woman should be on more Boards and should be making more decisions on allocations of monies. This paper seeks to address how diversity impacts an organization and how managers can make diversity work for them. Introduction According to Gibson, Ivancevich, Donnelly, and Konopaske (2012), Diversity is a term that describes the cultural, ethnic and racial differences in a population. A more comprehensive definition by Gibson et al (2012) indicates that diversity is “an array of physical and cultural differences that constitute the spectrum of human attributes. There are six dimensions of diversity which include: age...
Words: 2636 - Pages: 11
...Diversity and Inclusion SOC/315 November 09, 2011 Diversity and Inclusion Diversity refers the inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization. Many people with different backgrounds work together every day to accomplish tasks assigned on daily basis. Before working together the group should know the different dimensions of diversity. “Dimensions of diversity exert an important impact on our early socialization and a powerful sustained impact on our experiences, values, assumptions and expectations throughout every stage of history ” (Harvey, 2009). The different dimensions of diversity are race, gender, age, education, sexual orientation, and geographic origin, or employment. “Dimensions adds layers of complexity to individual identity, it is the dynamic interaction among all the dimensions that influences self-image, values, opportunities, and expectations” (Harvey, 2009). Dimensions of diversity apply an effect on each of us at home, work, and in society giving definition to our lives. “The United States is a very diverse nation and becoming more” (Schaefer, 2011). Concerning ethnic, cultural, or other groups I identify with all. My social circle is consistent with people from all groups. My social circle consists of individuals not a group. I think of all my associates as individuals with different personalities. My social circle member’s personalities are very different and the dimensions play a part from the way we dress, race, gender, and sexual...
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
...together on a goal. Some of the differences which can be enumerated between the terms team and group are as follows: The strength of the team relies on the fact that the members of a team have similarities in the purpse and there is interconnectively between the individuals members and on the other hand the group is larger in number. The group’s strength could be assessed from the fact that they need to be willing to execute the commands of a leader. Workplace diversity refers to the mixture of differences between people within an organization. This may sound simple but diversity includes race, gender, ethinic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, education and background are naming a few. Diversity involved how people look at themselves and others. Those perceptions have an effect on their interactions. Diversity will increase greatly over the years to come. Only successful organizations will recognize the need for immediate action and are willing to manage diversity in their workplace…now! The success and competitiveness depends on the organizations ability to embrace...
Words: 724 - Pages: 3
...Chapter 12: Managing Diversity in the Workplace The Chancellor's Committee on Diversity defines Diversity as: "The variety of experiences and perspective which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, mental or physical abilities, heritage,age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics." So why is it when many people think of diversity, they think first of ethnicity and race, and then gender? Diversity is much broader. Diversity is otherness or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong, yet present in other individuals and groups. It's important to understand how these dimensions affect performance, motivation, success, and interactions with others. Institutional structures and practices that have presented barriers to some dimensions of diversity should be examined, challenged, and removed. A good starting-point for thinking about diversity is to become familiar with UC’s systemwide Non-Discrimination Statement: “It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with the University of California on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran. This policy applies to all employment...
Words: 2057 - Pages: 9
...ABSTRACT Workplace diversity exists when companies hire employees from various backgrounds and experiences. Many companies see workplace diversity as an investment toward building a better business. Although workplace diversity provides many benefits, it also poses many challenges to employees and managers. To reap the benefits of workplace diversity, employees and managers must understand the challenges and know how to effectively deal with them. Diversity is commonly interpreted in relation to ethnicity, gender and culture. Diversity also captures the differences and similarities between individuals and group, encompassing race, ethnicity, gender, culture, age, sexual orientation, religion, language, education, family status, physical and mental ability. These demographic variables are related to other important diversity characteristics such as values, attitudes, interaction styles, physical and cognitive abilities and non-work commitments. The impact of diversity is both positive and negative. The research questions was: How can diverse workforce affect the organization? Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction 4 Background of the Study 4 Statement of the Problem 4 Purpose of the Study 5 Research Questions 6 Chapter 2. Literature Review 6 Chapter 3. Methodology 12 Data Analysis 12 Final Results 14 References 15 CHAPTER 1. BACKGROUND Today, globalization has become...
Words: 3487 - Pages: 14
...varying work styles, perspectives, and thoughts, our diversity provides us with a vast array of skills and talents that often go unrealized and undervalued. Those organizations that harness these differences and leverage varying perspectives and talents are better positioned to meet the ever-changing needs, wants, and expectations of their customers. Diversification of thought is the driver of innovation. Leveraging our differences for a competitive advantage does not necessarily come easy. It is not simply “common sense” and it is not achieved by just “getting along.” Successful diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives require a strategy that is inextricably connected to the organization’s overall business goals. There must be a strong connection to the business and senior leadership support in order for any initiative to be successful. Many organizations wrestle with myriad questions when putting together and executing a D&I strategy. The success of a D & I initiative is dependent upon employees clearly understanding the business case and their individual role in creating an inclusive workplace. Success requires the message and the approach to be compelling, consistent and clear enough to personally connect employees to the initiative. The optimal communicating/learning environment for promoting D & I awareness and building inclusive skills is one in which participants are immersed in a learning experience that is relevant to their jobs and to the situations...
Words: 639 - Pages: 3
...Workplace Diversity: Challenges and Opportunities Jane A. Hannon Southern New Hampshire University Workplace Diversity: Challenges and Opportunities The fastest growing segment of the workforce in the United States is adults over 55 years of age (Robbins & Judge, 2015). Given advancements in medical treatments, diagnosis, and wellness initiatives; a forecast of continued sluggish economic growth; and the changing landscape of employer-sponsored benefit programs, the increase of workers in this age group does not show signs of slowing down. An aging workforce presents challenges and opportunities for organizations. While some of these challenges are unique to the demographic, many are similar to the challenges and opportunities of managing other “surface-level diversity,” which includes race, gender, culture, and disability (Robbins & Judge, 2015). By effectively addressing diversity through the creation of policies and their consistent implementation, organizations have the potential for greater productivity and growth. Changes in Employee Relationships Generationally diverse workplaces pose distinct challenges for employers and employees. Because workers of different ages bring their own perceptions and personalities to the workplace, there exists the potential for misunderstanding and conflict. “Diversity involves not only how people perceive themselves but also how they perceive others. Those perceptions affect their interactions” (Patrick & Kumar, 2012)...
Words: 1244 - Pages: 5
...group in the U. S. by the year 2010. In order for companies to fully and aggressively compete in the marketplace, they will need to consider these statistics and work towards attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce. This will be critical if they are to survive. They will also need to recognize that the market they cater to is becoming more diverse. Diverse groups are a growing percentage of the buying power in the United States. In order to maintain competitive advantage in the sector they serve, organizations will need to truly understand its customers, clients, members and employees and will need to create an organizational climate that is welcoming to all. The Birth of the Diversity Movement The “Diversity” Movement was born in 1987, when the Hudson Institute launched a study titled “Workforce 2000”. The study projected demographic trends that would impact the workplace, as we knew it by the year 2000. One of the predictions made was that there would be a marked growth in the number of women and minorities entering the workforce. In fact, the report suggested that women,...
Words: 2841 - Pages: 12
...qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer...
Words: 1197 - Pages: 5
...Evolution of Business Nikoa Jefferson MGT/426 April 25, 2015 Sharla Walker Evolution of Business Role of Innovation The business environment is continuously evolving with the integration of new management trends developed to create opportunity and respond to various challenges. However, with the unpredictability of the business environment which is driven mainly by globalization and technology, innovation turned out to be increasingly important to success. It means that innovation and strategy is converging to help in productivity. Innovation has the potential to change the agents within an organization to become better entrepreneurs to meet various challenges. Strategic thinking is crucial in creating a coherent, integrative and unifying framework for making decisions particular regarding the direction in which an organization goes and the resources it plans to utilize (Goldsmith, 2009). In some way, strategic thinking utilizes external and internal data, perceptions and opinions. It is proactive, conscious and explicit while defining competitive realm for strategic advantage in the organization. Strategies are formed to improve the performance of an organization which means that the company will have to conduct something unique and different compared to that of the competitors. Whenever an organization develops a new strategy, it means that they are establishing change whether it is innovative...
Words: 1475 - Pages: 6
...Throughout the many issues in the workplace, diversity is an issue that needs immediate attention. Our culture is continuously evolving and with that being said diversity in our work environment should be evolving as well. It has been said, “Top performing companies have long recognized that diversity is good for business. But a just released report from The Economist Intelligence Unit finds that a new definition of workforce diversity is emerging. It’s no longer just about avoiding race, ethnicity, and gender discrimination, or even compliance with legal regulations. Diversity now encompasses values, meaning what motivates someone to join a company, embody organizational passions, and be productive for a long time.” (Galer, 2014) It is crucial for an organization to be diverse, lack of diversity can cause several issues in the workplace such as miscommunication, unproductivity, and creates a hostile work environment. By managing the problems with diversity the organization would benefit greatly in many ways. There are many reasons for why the issue of diversity needs to be addressed in the workplace. Specifically in the organization I work in there are many problems with diversity, many of the workers in my organization have brought up the fact that the race is predominantly white, it is also made aware that the engineers for the company are males and the females in the office are usually the subject of jokes and labeled as ‘non workers’. Since the site I currently work in...
Words: 682 - Pages: 3
...When defining diversity, one must acknowledge the differences between groups on human beings. These differences may include attributes such as ethnicity and race, religious and spiritual beliefs, educational and economic backgrounds, physical abilities and disabilities, age, gender, marital status and occupational status (McRae, 2012). By having all this diversity, individuals can have positive and negative impacts on the workplace. Diversity in the workplace can be perceived as a function of forced societal tolerances (McRae, 2012). No one employer has the right to turn down an applicant based on race, age or gender, it is a law. The workplace should have a diverse group of people. Diversity in a working environment could be seen as evidence of fair hiring practice within an organization (McRae, 2012). The most important impact of diversity in the workplace is perspective. By having different groups of people in the workplace there are different viewpoints to discussions and more than one resolution of issues. By having all these attitudes and ideas, the groups can provide valuable input to brainstorming sessions and issues demanding creative solutions. Businesses should strive for diverse groups and teams. When individuals are able to work with others whom are different from each other it challenges people’s preconceived notions about how the world works and it forces people to step outside their comfort zones and consider new thought processes. By opening people up to new...
Words: 357 - Pages: 2
...through Diversity Edited with an Introduction by Mary C. Gentile Forward by R. Roosevelt Thomas Differences That Work: Organizational Excellence through Diversity is a collection of 16 articles from the Harvard Business Review. Many of the articles were written over 15 years ago, but their content is still relevant today. The book does not directly tell the reader how to manage diversity in the workplace, but presents situations that compel the reader to question their own reaction if confronted with similar situations. Part I of the book offered an explanation of why diversity is becoming an increasingly important topic in the workplace. William B. Johnston, in “Global Workforce 2000: The New World Labor Market” explains that workplace diversity is not just a challenge in the United States. It is a challenge faced around the globe. Developing nations are producing educated workers faster than their economies are able to employ them. Therefore, these workers are immigrating to countries where they have the greatest opportunity. (p. 5) In order to attract the most talented workers, and stay competitive in the global marketplace, employers will have to learn to value the diverse talents that their changing workforce brings to the table. They will have to use these diverse talents to their competitive advantage instead of trying to fit all workers into the same mold. If the world (not just the United States) does not learn how to deal with the expanding diversity of the...
Words: 1844 - Pages: 8
...Best Practices in a Diverse Work Environment Melody Nelson HRM 531 October 18, 2010 Caroline Willett | InterClean, Inc. | Memo To: First level managers From: Melody Nelson CC: Date: October 18, 2010 Re: InterClean, Inc and EnviroTech Merger Transition Merger Transition The merger between InterClean an EnviroTech is in its final stages. As in any situation involving change, there will be some uncertainties and insecurities among the staff and it is the responsibility of all management personnel at all levels to effectively deal with these issues. However, setting a good foundation and following through with good communication, uncertainties and insecurities will be kept at a minimum. Following are a few ways you can make a significant contribution toward that goal. Enthusiasm is contagious! This is a golden opportunity not only for the future of InterClean but also for anybody at InterClean. As we begin merging the operations of both companies, there very well could be some downsizing in certain areas. However, there will also be new opportunities to learn, grow, and move into positions of greater responsibility. Commitment is contagious! “The importance of talking the talk and walking the walk is fundamental to achieving commitment” (Schifalacqua, Costello, & Denman, 2009). Frequent communications updating the status of the merging of operations should be relayed to all team members in a timely fashion in order to keep the excitement flowing...
Words: 752 - Pages: 4
...Cornell University ILR School DigitalCommons@ILR Student Works ILR Collection Spring 2013 Which Organizations are Best in Class in Managing Diversity and Inclusion, and What Does their Path of Success Look Like? Pin Zhou Cornell University Daniel Dongjin Park Cornell University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/student Part of the Human Resources Management Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the ILR Collection at DigitalCommons@ILR. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Works by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@ILR. For more information, please contact hlmdigital@cornell.edu. Which Organizations are Best in Class in Managing Diversity and Inclusion, and What Does their Path of Success Look Like? Abstract Question: Which organizations are best in class in managing diversity and inclusion, and what does their path of success look like? What are the criteria to measure ‘best in class’? Keywords human resources, diversity, inclusion Disciplines Human Resources Management Comments Suggested Citation Zhou, P. & Park, D. (2013). Which organizations are best in class in managing diversity and inclusion, and what does their path of success look like? Retrieved [insert date] from Cornell University, ILR School site: http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/student/46/ Required Publisher Statement Copyright by the authors. This article is available...
Words: 3665 - Pages: 15
