Transcript Diversity Management

Diversity
Goals
• Research is clear–
• Diversity can provide a competitive
advantage.
• Non-diverse work forces are easier to
manage than diverse work forces.
• Discuss both
• Regardless, risks if firms do not respect
diversity. Labor productivity should
diminish or labor costs increase.
Diversity
• Represent the multitude of individual
differences and similarities that exist
among people.
• Usually focuses on demographic and
social.
Differences between Diversity and
Affirmative Action
• AA
• Legally driven to get
right percentages
• Remedial efforts—
Blame and correct.
• Diversity
• Morally, fiscally driven
to respect all
employees for their
differences.
• Proactive—
supportive,
supervisory and
employee training.
Similarities
• Many programs are done in both cases.
Offering benefits that promote work/home
balance. Mentoring programs to
minorities.
• Holding supervisors responsible (bonuses)
for achieving good diversity balance.
Interesting
• Supreme Court has know but a deadline
for Affirmative Action programs but many
firms will have diversity programs—just not
numbers driven.
Why do so many firms value
diversity?
• Lower labor costs, better attitudes and
lower turnover
• Better recruiting
• Creativity, innovation, group problem
solving.
• Increased sales, market share.
Challenges of diversity Book lists
more
•
•
•
•
More difficult because stereotypes/bias
Reverse discrimination (self-centeredness)
Ethnocentrism
Revamp performance appraisal and
reward systems.
• Poor career planning and development
• Unsupportive work environment
Case
• What would you do and why? Explain
your response.
• Aware information is not complete.
Generic Actions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Include exclude
Deny
Assimilate
Suppress
Isolate
Tolerate
Build relationships
Foster mutual adaptation.
Video on Drug Users
Feedback
• What did you learn?
• What was vague or needs better
explanation?
Summary
• Dealing with diversity is not easy.
• Tend to have work values rather than
diverse values.
• To manage diversity, if diversity is valued,
need to give all employees reasonable
accommodation. What is reasonable.
• Religion is one example.
• Example in Iowa with Families. Extend
that same feeling to all.