managing diversity for competitive advantage ver2

November 5, 2011

What is Diversity? Negative issues of Diversity Managing Diversity Benefits & Risks Your role….

Diversity - The variety of experiences and perspectives which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, mental or physical abilities, heritage, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics.

Diversity also includes a wide variety of other differences, including class, work experience, parental status, educational background, geographic location, language, citizenship and much more.

Prejudice An attitude of dislike or hostility towards individuals on the basis of their membership in particular groups

Stereotype A one-sided exaggerated and normally prejudicial view of a group, or class of people. Stereotypes are often resistant to change.

Bias The appreciation or devaluation of another individual, group, characteristic, viewpoint or behavior based on one’s personal world view, beliefs and experiences. It can affect our ability to effectively assess or process information that represents an alternative viewpoint.

Race In common sense terms, race refers to people’s visible and inherited physical characteristics and differences. Race is a socially constructed category that is used primarily to determine people’s access to social resources

Ethnicity• Similarity of cultural patterns• The need to act to preserve the group• Informs identity• Can be related to a group, clan, family• Is not necessarily race based• There can be multiple ethnic groups

within a particular ‘race’

Discrimination The denial of equal treatment or opportunities to social groups. It is also about having the structural power to limit the advantages and opportunities of minoritized groups

*Internal Dimensions and External Dimensions are adapted from Loden M and Rosener J: Workforce America! 1991

1. Creating a workplace environment that values and utilizes the contributions of people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives

2. Recognizing the contribution that diversity of perspectives makes to generating new ideas and ways of doing things

3. Embracing the range of individual skills, educational qualifications, work experience background, languages, etc. that can improve the organization

4. Changing workforce practices to accommodate diverse individual realities eg. parental status, sexual orientation, religion etc

Managing Diversity involves….

Improves personal/interpersonal communications

Improves team functioning and performance

Increases creativity and innovation Increases the capacity for problem

solving Provides a broader range of ideas

and insightsto draw on in decision making and policy development

Enhances availability of opportunities

Improves staff health and well being

Benefits of Managing & Including Diversity

Reduces absenteeism Improves staff morale Includes a more varied talent

pool Increases ability to attract

and retain valued employees Improves quality of service

and client satisfaction Can lead to an enhanced

community image Can lead to savings in

recruitment and training costs

Benefits of Managing & Including Diversity

• Time• Money• Efficiency, loss of

productivity • Unhealthy tensions• Increased conflict• Inability to attract and

retain talented people • Complaints and legal

actions• Inability to retain valuable

employees• Lost investments in

recruitment and training.

Cost of Ignoring Diversity

Your Role….

Each person plays a key role in transforming the organizational culture to respect diversity. Some of the skills needed are:

Develop an understanding and acceptance of diversity Recognition that diversity should be represented in every aspect of the

organization Develop self-awareness, in terms of understanding your own culture,

identity, biases, prejudices, and stereotypes Challenge and change institutional practices that present barriers to

different groups

Show respect Avoid embarrassment Enhance understanding Avoid weakened negotiating position

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Latin American:• Business based on friendship• Relaxed atmosphere

European:• Belgian—conservative, efficient, impersonal• German—direct, factual• Dutch—little room for debate• French—intellectual approach• Greek—government contacts• Italian—confident, shrewd, competent• British—proper; neither imposing nor offensive

Japanese:• Indirect• Rely on trusted go-betweens• Build relationships• Try various strategies• Honor oral commitments

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Jamshedji Tata was refused entry to this Watson Hotel as 'Indians and Dogs were not allowed‘. And thanks to that, today we have the world famous Taj Mahal Hotel at Gateway of India, which was built to spite the Britishers.

Thank you

Time

Cultural thought patterns

Communication

Personal space and touch

Material possessions

Family roles and relationships

Religion

Personal achievement

Competitiveness and individuality

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