Diversity in the Workplace

Kimberly Isil

Diversity in the Workplace –Midterm

Diversity as an Asset

Diversity in the workplace has generally been thought of as an employment equality issue. However diversity is starting to be recognized now as an asset to a lot of companies and like any other asset as long as it is managed properly it eventually contributes to the bottom line. The American workplace is starting to move away from the typical white male-dominated era into a more diversified population which includes growing numbers of women, disabled or (differently abled), people of different ethnicity and of all ages. In this paper I will explain how diversity is becoming an important element in the globalization and overall success of a company.

My favorite definition of diversity I found in the ASTD Trainers Sourcebook series. "Diversity is the mosaic of people who bring a variety of backgrounds, styles, perspectives, values and beliefs as assets to the groups and organizations in which they interact" (Rasmussen, 274). I like the word mosaic, which is different from the original concept of melting pot because it implies that people retain their individual identity while contributing collectively to a greater idea. As well the definition describes diversity as a concept that is not only beneficial but also desirable to employees. The type of collaboration that comes with diversity is essential to the survival of a business it includes everyone and excludes no one.

Managing diversity is a challenge because it requires organizational change by promoting an environment that values differences among its employees. Companies that address diversity have a competitive edge because they are able to attract and retain high potential employees. When managing diversity it is important to realize that accepting the cultures of differing lifestyles provides the basis for new perspective and understanding for organizational behavior. The concept of an organization differs for different groups of people. For instance, because women typically hold lesser salaries then men they might look at an organization from the bottom. Just as well, minorities are often fewer in numbers so they might tend to view an organization as being somewhat segregating. Also it appears that members of groups are more comfortable communicating within their own groups. Since communication networks determine the information we receive, different groups receive different information on how to interpret the world and situations. Organizations operate within a larger cultural framework, and the employees in that organization bring their cultural influence with them. Therefore it stands to reason that cultures of gender and race help shape how workers view an organization. Because organizations are interdependent environments businesses have begun