The role of individual differences in attitudes and beliefs. The oxford dictionary defines cultural diversity as the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society. Managing diversity is a key component of effective people management in the workplace black enterprise 2001. Understand the value of diversity and how it relates to the workplace. Josh greenberg workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. Managing diversity well provides a distinct advantage in an era when flexibility and creativity are keys to competitiveness. Workplace diversity should be one of the top things businesses today should address. Workforce diversity is a primary concern for most of the businesses. Diversity in the workplace benefits and challenges. Cultural diversity in the workplace is a result of practices, values, traditions, or beliefs of employees based on race, age, ethnicity, religion, or gender. Why does workplace diversity matter hr news articles. For example, diversity training may sometimes be heavily genderfocused, with the training emphasizing the inequalities that occur in the workplace because of gender bias. Diversity refers to the coexistence of employees from various socio cultural backgrounds within the company.
Most institutions try to promote the creation of a diverse, creative workforce, but. But with benefits necessarily come challenges of working across borders, cultures, and languages. More than ever, employers are prioritizing diversity and inclusion initiatives and investing resources into making sure their teams are set up for success. Thomas harvard university o 2001 by cornell university. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools1. In this article, i offer some thoughts and insights on the strategic value and benefits of diversity in the workplace, cultural attributes that provide the prime conditions to harness the benefits of diversity and some pitfalls to avoid when building a culturally diverse workplace. Managing diversity is defined as planning and implementing organizational systems and practices to. The entrepreneur perceives an opportunity and often exhibits biases in taking the decision to exploit the opportunity. Cultural diversity includes but is not restricted to. Importance of cultural diversity in the workplace bizfluent.
People are different in not only gender, culture, race, social and psychological characteristics but also in their perspectives. The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace cant be understated. Most institutions try to promote the creation of a diverse, creative workforce, but unfortunately, even after several. Building an inclusive diversity culture the founding principles. Kelli green, mayra lopez, allen wysocki, karl kepner, derek farnsworth, and jennifer l. The current study examines the potential barriers to workplace diversity and suggests strategies to enhance workplace diversity and inclusiveness. Its simple, but it helps create a culture of inclusion. This resulted in the creation of engaging and innovative programs which had the support of senior leadership. Aug 22, 2018 managing diversity in organizations is one of the defining issues of our time. Stephen butler, cochair of the businesshigher education forum, believes diversity is an invaluable competitive asset robinson 2002.
Study the views of various companies regarding the choice and implementation of workplace diversity. Take action to build an organization where every employee can thrive. Businesses should prioritize hiring diverse employees because of the many great things associated with it. The impact of workplace diversity on organisations core. Managing cultural diversity at workplace diva portal. Mulkeen,2008 describes workplace diversity as all the differences that exist within people with respect to age, gender, sexual orientation, education, cultural background, religion, and work experience. Diversity measures may also be embedded within existing tools for training. Diversity, workplace, cultural mentoring, organisation. Business advantages of diversity in the workplace the united states office of employment predicts that 29 percent of the u. At other times, diversity training focuses on ethnicity, with the emphasis placed on setting aside stereotypes regarding other of different backgrounds. An introduction to culture and diversity in the workplace 2. Regional culture differences in the workplace can present interesting challenges for u.
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. Having diverse employees increases the bottom line and also assists in staying on the right side of the law. The effects of diversity perspectives on work group processes and outcomes robin j. The research question of the study is has workplace diversity contributed to organiza tional success. In order to answer the research question the author defined the following objectives of the study. The article also recommends steps for achieving and maintaining diversity in the workplace and suggests solutions for it. Valuing diversity is a key component of effective people management, which can improve workplace productivity. One positive effect is that employees belonging to different cultures usually have different ways of thinking and can thus analyze a matter at hand from a variety of. Cultural diversity and information and communication. Method we studied a consulting firm, a financial services firm, and a law firm. Looking at how leaders, managers and nonmanagerial employees view diversity, it. It is your job to make the most of the diversity present in your company. Diversity in the workplace edis university of florida. Josh greenbergs article on diversity in the workplace for the multicultural advantage provides an overview of diversity and briefly breaks down both the benefits and challenges of diversity.
Effects of gender diversity management on perceptions of organizational attractiveness. Explain benefits and limitations of workplace diversity. A diverse workforce signals an attractive work environment for talent. Cultural diversity is a growing phenomenon that has increased attention and importance in the 21 st century. Embracing cultural diversity in the workplace is an important first step for businesses that want to be competitive on an international scale. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. Article information, pdf download for cultural diversity in the workplace.
Workforce diversity means similarities and differences among employees in terms of age, cultural background, physical abilities and disabilities, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Click download or read online button to get cultural diversity in the workplace book now. The globalization of economies and the migration has dramatically increased opportunities while also affecting organizations in a manner that it. The issue of managing cultural diversity is a primary concern for many international organisations. The importance of diversity in the workplace there are clear signs in the latest leadership, employment and direction l. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Cultural diversity within a workplace is increasingly becoming important as more organisations are embracing it within the global workforce. Hiring a diverse staff for your business creates a workforce that possesses a wide range of skills, talents and ideas. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 2 advantages. Cultural diversity management, diversity at workplace, employee perception, human resource management abstract. Issues and challenges harold andrew patrick 1 and vincent raj kumar2 abstract diversity management is a process intended to create and maintain a positive work environment where the similarities and differences of individuals are valued. From the virgin group to disney and pricewaterhousecoopers, organizations across industries are embracing the benefits of a diverse workforce. Article pdf available january 2007 with 16,717 reads. Hr plays a critical role in creating an inclusive environment, which includes understanding the cultural diversity of your workforce both domestically and abroad.
We are live in an increasingly multicultural society. But with benefits necessarily come challenges of working. By normative acceptance, we mean a widespread cultural belief that gender diversity is important. 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.
Explore the required tools for managing workplace diversity. In numerous studies, research has shown that employees in prodiversity regions, like the u. Here are ways to foster cultural diversity in the workplace and make sure employees feel accepted. Introduction orkplace bullying is mistreatment of behavior by managers or. Cultural diversity management, diversity at workplace. Entrepreneurs are not necessarily motivated by profit but regard it as a standard for measuring achievement or success. 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.
Recognize the role of stereotypes, assumptions, and other barriers to diversity, and the effect that they can have in the workplace and in our personal lives. Choosing from the largest group of candidates will ensure youre hiring a diverse and qualified workforce. Workplace diversity is taking the hr world by storm. The modern workplace is a mosaic of different ideas, beliefs and opinions, which taken together create an atmosphere of cultural diversity. Introduction workplace diversity is the issue of people, focus on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization. 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. In other words, beliefs about gender diversity create a selffulfilling cycle. Todays organisations need to recognise and manage workforce diversity effectively. To be prepared for the world today, your need information on awareness, communication, respect and more.
The challenge posed by the increasing cultural diversity of the us. The acceptance and management of cultural diversity have been promoted and touted as a positive tool in social and organizational engineering aimed at solving and preventing group dynamics problems in both business organizations and society as well. Although cultural diversity can be a source of tension, it can also bolster workplace productivity. Coping with diversity on a normative level means exactly this. Introduction culture is a word with many shades of meaning. Managing diversity in organizations is one of the defining issues of our time. Cultural diversity is a subject that has been getting growing attention not just internationally but also in sweden in the 21st century. Culture is considered to be the underlying values that direct how people behave. Inherent diversity things like gender, race, physical or mental disabilities is what most. The benefits of cultural diversity in the workplace forbes. There are major facts and trends that maneuver this in the beginning of this century.
Why does workplace diversity matter over the past few years, coca cola enterprises focused on diversity and laid the foundation for inclusion all over the company. In this paper, the relationship between diversity and innovation in organizations is of interest. Importance of cultural diversity in the workplace deputy. While there are myriad cultural variations, here are some essential to the workplace. Cultural diversity, diversity management, globalization, multicultural organization, organizational behaviour intertjailonaljournal of tlif diversity, volume 6. The cultural diversity phenomenon in organisations and different approaches for effective cultural diversity management. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in. The effects of cultural diversity in the workplace clute journals. The meaning of the term diversity has evolved over time from an initial focus on racial differences, to include sex, political affiliation, cultural affinity, gender identity, religion, and sexual orientation in. Workforce diversity and the performance of telecommunication. Cultural diversity in the workplace download ebook pdf.
Workplace diversity and intercultural communication. Cultural diversity in the workplace can shape how employers operate. Examine ourselves as we relate to all forms of diversity. Workplace diversity despite having numerous benefits does have its flaws. Organisations that develop experience in and reputations for managing diversity will likely attract the best personnel carrel et al. Cultural diversity and information and communication impacts. Challenges exist in guiding a population that differs in personalities and cultures, but. Just what is meant by cultural diversity presents its own set of theoretical complexities and prob lematic. This document is hr022, one of a series of the food and resource economics department, ufifas extension. Why workplace diversity is so important, and why it. So its increasingly important to be informed about workplace diversity, and what it means to you.
Of course, there are legal requirements for hiring practices. The study concludes that successfully managing diversity can lead to more committed, better satisfied, better performing employees and potentially better. The pr esent paper just showe d the most o bvious cultural diversity based on the researchers experiences as a f oreign students and it do esnt want to evalu ate none of the mentioned cultu res. The 21st century american workforce is a melting pot of different races, genders, ethnicities, ages, nationalities and religions. The relationship between cultural diversity and workplace. Culture as problematic a number of authors bemoan the con fusion often made between managing diversity and managing culture.
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. Achieving cultural diversity can require a nuanced level of understanding of your employees and your surrounding environment. Defining cultural values by defining key cultural values, employers can better understand their workforce and what their expectations might be. More importantly, it estimates that from 1998 to 2008 some 41 percent of the people entering the u. Cultural diversity, communication, learning, cultural stratifications 1. Survey results that organisations are slowly awakening to the positive benefits available through a diverse workforce. Diversity can improve organisational effectiveness. 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. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures, and work with varying cultural beliefs and schedules.
593 1115 1582 593 340 893 787 328 914 1236 401 1322 1205 1251 1234 98 1084 404 450 552 1283 517 664 649 202 313 717 1271 1429 824 961 804