Five trends driving workplace diversity in 2015 forbes. But with benefits necessarily come challenges of working. Study the views of various companies regarding the choice and implementation of workplace diversity. The results demonstrate that cultural diversity does in fact add value and, within the proper context, contributes to firm competitive advantage. Managing employee heterogeneity is more important and. Entrepreneurs are not necessarily motivated by profit but regard it as a standard for measuring achievement or success. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 2 advantages. It provides a general defini tion for workplace diversity, discusses the benefits and challenges of managing diverse workplaces, and presents effective strategies. The study will be useful for the companies under discussion nevertheless it shall also be helpful for people who want to know more about workplace diversity, and how to manage it. Diversity and its impact on organizational performance scielo. Survey results that organisations are slowly awakening to the positive benefits available through a diverse workforce. Introduction workplace diversity is the issue of people, focus on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization. Diversity in the workplace edis university of florida.
In this way, diversity is a key ingredient to growing a strong and inclusive economy thats built to last. Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. Inherent diversity things like gender, race, physical or mental disabilities is what most businesses first consider when building diversity campaigns. To a horticulturalist, it means balancing perennials, annuals, shade and sun. The importance of diversity in the workplace there are clear signs in the latest leadership, employment and direction l.
The entrepreneur perceives an opportunity and often exhibits biases in taking the decision to exploit the opportunity. Constantchangesinafirmscultureandinpeoples personal beliefs force the workplace to deal with the concept and issue of diversity. Explore the required tools for managing workplace diversity. Diversity at workplace is a common occurrence workplace nowadays. Our commitment to action, outlined in the strategy and plans, will continue to unlock the value a diverse and inclusive workforce brings to our services. Workplace diversity is taking the hr world by storm. Armed with the results of employee assessments and research data, they must build and implement a customized strategy to maximize the effects of workplace diversity for their particular organization. The study concludes that successfully managing diversity can lead to more committed, better satisfied, better performing employees and potentially better. To a stockbroker, it means a balanced portfolio of stocks, bonds and other investments. The effects of diversity perspectives on work group processes and outcomes robin j. Given this fact, businesses, educational systems and other entities are investigating ways to better serve their constituents. Looking at how leaders, managers and nonmanagerial employees view diversity, it. Workplace diversity despite having numerous benefits does have its flaws. Managing diversity is a key component of effective people management in the workplace black enterprise 2001.
Managing the relationships of a diverse workforce and ensuring that its members communicate and get along with one another is also essential. Promoting diversity and inclusion through workplace adjustments ilo. Although cultural diversity can be a source of tension, it can also bolster workplace productivity. For decades, the united states has seen an increasing number of immigrants, which has led to a significant increase in cultural diversity in the united states. We are interested in learning more about your organizations successes and challenges in fostering cultural diversity in the workplace. Thomas harvard university o 2001 by cornell university. Implementation of diversity in the workplace policies this can be the overriding challenge to all diversity advocates. This paper is a conceptual paper which introduces some novel concepts which can help organizations manage diverse workforce so as to gain. The top 10 economic facts of diversity in the workplace. Diversity in the workplace benefits and challenges.
As etsy, griffin and shorr hirsch point out, embracing and encouraging diversity allows businesses to create an environment in which workers learn from one anothers differences, discovering in the process new ways of thinking about problems and finding solutions. Workplace diversity should be one of the top things businesses today should address. Having diverse employees increases the bottom line and also assists in staying on the right side of the law. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in. More than ever, employers are prioritizing diversity and inclusion initiatives and investing resources into making sure their teams are set up for success. The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace. This is the first part of that series and focuses on four essential skills companies must possess in order to manage diversity in the workplace effectively. Diversity management in the workplace article pdf available in acta universitatis agriculturae et silviculturae mendelianae brunensis 643. The personal information you provide will be used and disclosed only for the purpose of this survey and the. Cultural diversity is a form of appreciating the differences in individuals. The benefits of cultural diversity in the workplace forbes. Cultural diversity in the workplace is when companies are open to hiring employees from all sorts of different backgrounds.
Managing diversity at workplace 161 ignore nor minimize cultural diversity, but rather view it as a resource in designing and developing organizational systems adler, 1980. Why cultural diversity in the workplace is a winwin teams and companies that make diversity a priority offer a variety of ideas, perspectives and learning opportunities. And cultural diversity in the workplace, while valuable, can sometimes lead to challenges if employers arent aware of the key aspects of the culture and how to address them. The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace cant be understated. Focusing on diversity and inclusion is not only the smart thing to do for your business, but also the right thing to do for humanity. The differences can be based on gender, age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social status.
Josh greenberg workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. Businesses should prioritize hiring diverse employees because of the many great things associated with it. However, a workforce that consists of different races, religions, ethnicities and gender can produce both positive as well as negative effects. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in multicultural organizations patrick a. By defining key cultural values, employers can better understand their workforce and what their expectations might be. This research thematically analyzes the definitions of diversity in management literature to determine. Diversity is a commitment to recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics that make individuals unique in an atmosphere that promotes and celebrates individual and collective achievement. Importance of cultural diversity in the workplace bizfluent.
That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. Executive summary best practices in achieving workforce diversity diversity affects the world advances in technology and the advent of a global economy bring the people of the world closer together than ever before. Because workplace diversity lends itself to many highlevel goals, such as increased innovation and better results. The variety of experiences and perspective which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, mental or.
Since diversity will increase significantly in the coming years, successful organizations recognize the need for immediate action and are ready and willing to spend resources on managing diversity in the workplace now. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background, and. But you should also consider acquired diversity when making this assessment, which includes all the psychosocial experiences your employees bring into the workplace. Lets look at the top 10 economic benefits of workplace diversity. This will have an effect on innovation at the organization level, therefore the research question. Faculty of health sciences, durban university of technology kev words abstract. In the second case, the emphasis is placed on power relations, social exclusion and the need to create inclusive professional climates. Business advantages of diversity in the workplace the united states office of employment predicts that 29 percent of the u. The impact of workplace diversity on organisations core. From the virgin group to disney and pricewaterhousecoopers, organizations across industries are embracing the benefits of a diverse workforce.
The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace wednesday, september 21, 2016 11. And in this post, that is what we are going to discuss. The concept of diversity diversity in the workplace is growing faster than we can address its concomitantissues. More importantly, it estimates that from 1998 to 2008 some 41 percent of the people entering the u. A leading provider of diversity and inclusion training tools and the top diversity calendar, diversity resources covers cultural diversity in the workplace in a series of articles. By jeanne martinson diversity is a word that is tossed around in many areas of work and social life, and has come to mean different things to different people. The globalization of economies and the migration has dramatically increased opportunities while also affecting organizations in a manner that it. The current study examines the potential barriers to workplace diversity and suggests strategies to enhance workplace diversity and inclusiveness. Managing diversity in the workplace means that businesses need to keep abreast of changing employerrelated laws and trends, especially diversityrelated changes. Embracing cultural diversity in the workplace is an important first step for businesses that want to be competitive on an international scale. Aluko, olabisi onabanjo university, nigeria abstract. An introduction to culture and diversity in the workplace 2. To start, lets talk about what workplace diversity means.
When companies recruit and retain a diverse pool of people, it brings about different benefits to. Workforce diversity means similarities and differences among employees in terms of age, cultural background, physical abilities and disabilities, race, religion. Diversity in the workplace by ba in human resource. We are live in an increasingly multicultural society. Managing diversity and equality in the workplace cogent oa. While you may be great at your job and a wonderful person to spend time with, working. As hp is a global innovative and learning organization, its key resource to manage diversity is cultural synergy. A diverse workforce employs people from all walks of life all backgrounds, genders, ages, races, religions, and abilities. Companies that have a clear diversity and inclusion policy and are seen to enforce this policy benefit from happier and more productive employees and a great. Managing cultural diversity at workplace diva portal. Cultural diversity is a subject that has been getting growing attention not just internationally but also in sweden in the 21st century. A phenomenological study adam evans1 and harika suklun2,3 abstract. Workplace diversity and intercultural communication.
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