Unit 2: Diversity
Another major impact on the culture of an organization is the makeup of its workforce. Specifically, what is diversity and how does it affect the management of an organization. In this unit we'll explore topics related to managing a diverse workforce including the benefits and challenges of an organization comprised of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. In addition, we'll look at the more well-known laws regarding discrimination in the work place and how cross-cultural issues can impact doing business globally.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 6 hours.
Read this article and consider the following questions: How important is it for an organization to incorporate diversity into every facet of its business? Why have many businesses chosen to adopt only a couple practices in support of diversity and change? What do all five examples of diversity champions have in common? How do you think their outstanding diversity efforts have contributed to their success?
2.1: Managing a Diverse Workforce
Read this section, which explains how diversity is changing the workforce.
Read this section, which includes a discussion of the challenges and benefits of diversity, and the tools you can use in your work as a manager to address various aspects of diversity.
Read this article and consider the following questions: What is the impact of changing demographics on the workforce in New Zealand? And, as demographics change worldwide, how should organizations respond in terms of their hiring practices? Do you think the outcomes of this case study could be applied to other industries besides education? In conjunction with the findings within the education industry, do you think that educating all employees about diversity is beneficial to a business's success? If so, how?
Read this section, which discusses cultural identity and how to better analyze culture in the business world using Dutch researcher Geert Hofstede's framework. Study this information with an eye toward uncovering ways to address cultural impact on organizational behavior and learning how to become better equipped to make management decisions associated with culture (filtered through an understanding of diversity, as mentioned in the previous reading).
Read sections 2.3 and 2.4, which discuss how to integrate the concepts of culture, diversity, and ethics into a cohesive thought process that can be used to support national and international management decisions.
Read this section, which provides a case study of the workplace environment at IBM. Think about how models and concepts of workforce diversity might apply to IBM and its efforts to promote a positive, fulfilling, and challenging work environment for its many employees.
2.2: Generational Diversity
Read this article and consider the following questions: How prevalent is generational diversity in today's organizations? What are some of the differences between each generation group? How important is it for a person to know his or her own generational tendencies as well as the generational tendencies of coworkers? What generation group do you belong to, and what generational tendencies do you notice in your own behavior? How do these tendencies affect your interactions with others?
Reflect on the article about generational diversity that you have just read. What, if any, impact does generational diversity have on your own workplace? Are younger, more technologically comfortable employees tolerant of older employees who may not possess as many technological skills? Have you observed the reactions of older employees to new technology, and if so, how did these employees deal with those changes? Share your thoughts on these questions in the course discussion forum by clicking on the link above and creating a free account (if you have not already done so). Read the responses that other students have posted and post your own comments on the forum. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your peers and to receive meaningful feedback of your own.