1 what is valuing diversity do valuing diversity initiatives work? learning goals

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1 What is valuing diversity Do valuing diversity initiatives work? Learning Goals

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• What is valuing diversity

• Do valuing diversity initiatives work?

Learning Goals

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• Managing Diversity• Change organizational structure, policies, norms &

practices (e.g., hiring) to create fairness• Similar to strategies reducing discrimination (Stephan & Stephan ch. 2)

• Valuing Diversity• Change employee attitudes and behaviors by

• Emphasis on equality/fairness values

• Providing training on awareness & skills– Similar to strategies reducing stereotyping & prejudice (See

Stephan & Stephan ch 2)

Types of Diversity Initiatives

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• Emphasize fairness/equality values• E.g., mission statement, recruitment ads etc.

• Provide diversity training to• Improve skills

• E.g., Interpersonal, conflict mgt, language skills etc.

• Increase awareness/sensitivity• Cultural & historical information about groups

• Know about stereotypes

• Change attitudes & feelings• Hardest to do (e.g., counteract stereotypes, reduce

prejudice)

Valuing Diversity

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• Highlight differences in communication styles – Of people’s preference for communicating orally vs. online

• Inter-cultural conflict resolution• Via discussing sensitive topics with a moderator

• Increase cultural identity– Learn about each other’s culture

• Reduce interpersonal stereotyping– E.g., Bec. you are muscular you must be athletic

• Reduce group stereotyping– E.g., Bec. you are Chinese you must be conservative

• Gain empathy– For people who are too shy to speak out in class

Purpose of one Diversity Training Exercise

Online-discussion group for a course

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• Learn about culture• What is culture?

• Beliefs, norms, customs, knowledge, habits of a group (e.g., “What are transparent aspects of culture” cultural circles exercise)

– Why learn about culture &/ cultural differences?• Increases awareness of role of culture in social

interactions & behaviors (e.g., choice of partner; amount of eye-contact)

• Assumption: Awareness improves interactions with culturally different other

To improve skills or increase awareness…..

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• Learn about stereotypes, prejudice etc.• What is a stereotype?• What is a prejudice?• How are they different from culture?

To change attitudes & feelings

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• Very few published/documented evaluations (<10) of diversity training efforts

• One qualitative review of published evaluations of diversity training programs

Does Diversity Training Work

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• Trainers do not like sharing techniques

• Trainers do not know evaluation techniques

• Evaluation requires time and money

• Some evaluations take more time away from trainees’ jobs, are resisted by organizations

• Showing no change (or negative change) is disadvantageous to trainer

Why such few Evaluations of Training Programs

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• One qualitative review of published evaluations of diversity training programs

Does Diversity Training Work

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• Tansik & Driskill 1977• 20 hrs of lectures, case studies, role-playing• Small changes right after, positive changes 5 weeks

after, negative attitudes 12 weeks after

• Sorcher & Spence 1982• 10 week prog of watching videotapes of effective

behaviors, role playing with reinforcement • No changes immediately or 6 weeks after, but

positive changes 20 weeks after

Evaluation of Diversity Training Programs

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• Dunnette & Motowildo (1982)• 3-days of small group discussions, readings,

seminars, videos on sexist attitudes & behaviors• No changes for men, but positive changes for

women

Evaluation of Diversity Training Programs

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• Alderfer (1992)• Upward mobility program, balanced composition of

promotion committees, workshop had lectures, role-plays and experiential activities

• Increases in minorities in management ranks • Dominant group members evaluated program

more negatively than minority group members

Evaluation of Diversity Training Programs

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• Ellis & Sonnenfield (1994)• 1 day of watching videos of culturally insensitive

behaviors and discussing them• 59% evaluated seminar positively

• Tan, Morris, & Romero (1996)• 3 days of case studies, simulations, videos,

discussions• Increased knowledge of

• Diversity issues • Barriers to change• Sensitization to and knowledge of how to prevent

negative effects of prejudice & stereotypes

Evaluation of Diversity Training Programs

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• Hanover & Cellar 1998• Videos, role playing, examination of diversity

practices, action planning• Increased ratings on diversity practice measures

(e.g., open discussions of group differences, discouraging comments perpetuating stereotypes)

• Rynes & Rosen 1995• 33% of HR managers surveyed rated diversity

programs as successful but 18% rated them as unsuccessful

• Mandatory prog were rated as more successful

Evaluation of Diversity Training Programs

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• Layng 1998• Analysis of commonly used video in diversity

training programs• Introduced new stereotypes to replace old ones• Too much focus on incompetence of White male

managers can alienate intended audience• Suggests that diversity leads to communication

problems

Evaluation of Diversity Training Programs

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• Conclusion from review of published evaluations of diversity training programs• They do not work

Does Diversity Training Work

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• Content of Training

• Participants

• Changing established norms & practices of adults in organizations is difficult– Need managing diversity initiatives to occur

simultaneously (e.g., Alderfer, 92)

• Mismanagement of expectations– Limited time for change to occur– Attitudes/feelings hard to change

Why Diversity Training may fail

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• Teach inter-group aspects – E.g., Emphasize similarity & differences within

groups as in cultural circles

• Teach Legal aspects– E.g., Discrimination scenarios exercise– Focus on training skills bec. employers are legally

responsible for employee behaviors • Added benefit of making diversity policies palatable to

all

• Confrontation of Values • Prevalent organizational values• Value differences between groups

Content of Diversity Training

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• Before Training: Composition of training group • Majority & minority members • Members from all organizational ranks,• Diverse trainers on teams

Participants of Diversity Training

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• During training, anticipate• Majority/dominant groups

• Majority members may feel additionally threatened (e.g., as being attacked during training)

• Mandatory nature can be resented

– People who need it the most get it but popularity may be reduced

• Minorities • have negative reactions re: slow pace of change

• may feel uncomfortable when focus of attention during training

• Conflict between majority & minority groups

Participants of Diversity Training

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• Valuing Diversity involves training for skills, increasing awareness, changing attitudes

• Very few evaluations of diversity training programs– Review shows they do not work– Can be due to several challenges that confront

diversity trainers

What we learned…