Preview

A Framework for Pursuing Diversity in the Work Place

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1787 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
A Framework for Pursuing Diversity in the Work Place
Case Analysis

A Framework for Pursuing Diversity in the Work Place

By

Dr. Thomas Delong and Mr. Michael Brookshire

Group Dynamics for Teams (HRDV 5560)
Instructor: Dr. Innocent Nkwocha
April 23, 2007

Team One Members: Alisha Carlton, Saundra Carr, Jeanna Dixon, Shereka Rhett, Sara Young Case Analysis

A Framework for Pursuing Diversity in the Work Place

Comprehend the Case Situation

Mr. Thomas Delong and Mr. Michael Brookshire paper assesses the costs and benefits of pursuing diversity. They reviewed the primary barriers to creating diverse workplaces and propose options for companies’ interest in pursuing diversity in their organization. The fundamental reason for embracing diversity is the perspective on discrimination and diversity. Discrimination is an act or pattern of acts that affects the individual. Diversity is an attribute of an organization’s culture that has an impact on the entire organization. First of all, discrimination is easier to assess because discrimination laws seek only to determine whether an individual has been treated inequitably because of his or her demographic category. Diversity is a broader concept having to do with the overall climate of an organization and its composition of mixed constituents. It is important to note that discrimination in hiring generally precludes diversity, however, lack of diversity does not necessarily indicate discrimination.
Identify the Problem/Formally State the Problem The federal law on discrimination has had legislative amendments since 1870 to the U. S. Constitution. Race was eliminated as a voting barrier (by the Fifteenth Amendment), gender in 1920 (Nineteenth Amendment), and class in 1964 with the prohibition of poll taxes (Twenty-Fourth Amendment). However the United States government did not officially outlaw discrimination in the workplace until the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964. Since 1964, other laws were passed prohibiting overt

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The concept of Diversity and obtaining its 'true' understanding continues to shape and reshape organizational culture globally. Article written by R. Roosevelt Thomas on Redefining Diversity, broadens the general knowledge of diversity within the workplace and our everyday lives. In fact, in the early 1990s studies were done to determine the meaning of diversity. For example, in 1997 the National Naval Research Council defined diversity as the presence of a significant number of women, members of underrepresented racial groups, and persons with disabilities throughout the organization (National Research Council Staff. Building a Diverse Workforce: Scientists and Engineers in the Office of Naval Research. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 1997. p viii. ) Although a general relative definition, R. Roosevelt Thomas provided a more in depth understanding of diversity and indicates in his article that diversity is no longer about the crucial distinctions between groups, but is the elements that encompasses both the differences and similarities of employees (Understanding and Managing Diversity, pg ___.) thus, creating a diversity mixture within corporations. For me, it is surprising to adjust to the notion that diversity can in fact relate to the similarities and/or qualities of constituencies. This helps to eliminate the thought process that diversity is one dimensional.…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Everly Police Department is facing a problem in which there is not an policy or procedure in which complaints from the newly formed Diversity Complaint Bureau can follow to resolve the complaints that are being submitted.…

    • 2184 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Healthcare providers all have a common goal and that goal is to provide quality care in an environment that is conducive to healing. But what happens, when the quality care is hampered by unprofessional attitudes or conflict? How well is the delivery of quality care, when these are mixed in? The common interest is for patients to receive the best care possible and give the facility a good recommendation to others; so new clients may be acquired. Administrators want their facilities to have a good reputation but when internal conflict can be viewed by the patients, that is a problem that has to be solved. Only good communication,…

    • 3530 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, or age, all organizations need to hire, retain, and develop a diverse workforce that provides a deeper pool of talent and unique perspectives that help the organization identity and meet the needs of a diverse customer base (McGraw-Hill 2012, p.46). Organizations are now recognizing the need and importance of investing in diversity as part of their overall mission. Diversity is crucial in this day 's global marketplace as companies interact with different ethnic cultures and clients. The results of having a diverse workplace are increased creativity, increased productivity improved moral, new language skills, global understanding, new processes, new solutions to difficult problems and improved employee recruitment and retention.…

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Green, K. A., López, M., Wysocki, A., & Kepner, K. (2001, July). Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools. Retrieved July 10, 2014, from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HR/HR02200.pdf…

    • 2305 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Making Differences Matter

    • 8943 Words
    • 36 Pages

    Harvard Business Review September, 1996 / October, 1996 HEADLINE: MAKING DIFFERENCES MATTER: A NEW PARADIGM FOR MANAGING DIVERSITY BYLINE: by David A. Thomas and Robin J. Ely; David A. Thomas is an associate professor at the Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts. Robin J. Ely is an associate professor at Columbia University 's School of International and Public Affairs in New York City. Their research and teaching focus on the influence of race, gender, and ethnicity on career dynamics and organizational effectiveness. ABSTRACT: MAKING DIFFERENCES MATTER: A NEW PARADIGM FOR MANAGING DIVERSITY DAVID A. THOMAS and ROBIN J. ELY Diversity efforts in the workplace have been undertaken with great goodwill, but, ironically, they often end up fueling tensions. They rarely spur the leaps in organizational effectiveness that are possible. Two paradigms for diversity are responsible, but a new one is showing it can address the problem. The discrimination-and-fairness paradigm is based on the recognition that discrimination is wrong. Under it, progress is measured by how well the company achieves its recruitment and retention goals. The paradigm idealizes assimilation and color- and gender-blind conformism. The access-and-legitimacy paradigm, on the other hand, celebrates differences. Under it, organizations seek access to a more diverse clientele, matching their demographics to targeted consumers. But that paradigm can leave employees of different identity-group affiliations feeling marginalized or exploited. In companies with the right kind of leadership, a third paradigm is showing that beneficial learning takes place and organizations become more effective in fulfilling their missions if employees are encouraged to tap their differences for creative ideas. If all or most of eight preconditions are in place, the opportunities for growth are almost unlimited. Leaders in third-paradigm companies are proactive about learning from diversity; they encourage people to…

    • 8943 Words
    • 36 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This report presents the results of a comprehensive review of the positive impacts that diversity training can have on an organization as a whole as well as the individual employee. As the United States minority populations percentages increase the number of ethnic minorities will mirror the increase in minorities in the workforce. Due to this ethic shift in the US population, diversity training will remain as a pressing topic. Senior level executives must embrace this change and continue to create a positive environment that is conducive to all employees regardless of their fundamental cultural differences. Moreover, businesses must learn to embrace and manage diversity if they want to continue to be successful. More often now in today’s ever-growing corporations then in the past, employees from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds are forced to work together to achieve their company’s goals. When diversity training is masterfully executed, it will help to create a positive diverse workforce that can open up opportunities for growth in a business and create a more constructive environment. If diversity training is successfully executed it has the potential to enhance employees ' fundamental understanding of cultural sensitivity and other pertinent differences. Diversity training and building relationships are key elements to advancing organization. Managing employees from diverse backgrounds can create a unique challenge if employees lack mutual respect based solely on unfounded generalizations of gender, religion, disabilities and ethnic background. The success or failure of a corporation can rely heavily on the ability to successful blend a diverse organization. Diversity programs address the need for organizations to be more vigilant of their employees needs; however, with change comes resistance. Some…

    • 2380 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The article I have selected “Shifts happen, and then we change-Today diversity has become a…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Diversity In The Workplace

    • 1039 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The workplace changed while we weren't looking. No longer is it dominated by white middle class men. With changes, increased minorities numbers and the movement of women in the workplace, companies need to address issues of diversity in the workplace. The field of diversity has gone beyond even culture and gender but also recognizes that different styles and approaches can be useful to have in any workplace. "In an ideal world, every person is treated equally when it comes to getting a job, advancing in their career, and being treated fairly in the workplace. In reality, we know this is not the case. Racial discrimination does still exist in hiring, firing, and promotions" (Ethnic Majority).…

    • 1039 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Diversity and inclusion in the workplace are laudable benchmarks, but making it a standard that all employees embrace requires an effective plan all will buy into. Factors such as the rising numbers of immigrants, mergers or joint ventures with companies in other countries, the rising use of temps and contract workers, and the increasing globalization of business are a few of the forces making our workforce more diverse. With this growing diversity, companies must be constantly adjusting their diversity programs to meet these challenges. This paper takes a look at some of the changes…

    • 1598 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Most people would agree that cultural diversity in the workplace utilizes our country's skills to its fullest, and contributes to our overall growth and prosperity. The reality of the situation is that it hasn't happened and progress remains slow. One of the reasons for this has been the lack of diversity in corporate America. By not developing a diverse workforce from the top down, African, Hispanic, and Asian Americans are unfairly demoted to lower-skilled, lower-pay positions and are not able to fulfill their true potential. Many corporations have recognized that diversity contributes to the workplace by making it easier to retain good employees, lowering costs by developing skills in-house, and developing a reputation that helps attract…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Diversity In The Workplace

    • 1387 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Successful professionals are learning to demonstrate the contribution of diversity programs to the business on macro and micro levels. We have to remember that having a diversified workforce is not something a company should have, actually it is some thing that has happened or is soon going to happen due to the fact that we have a more diversified population. Diversity in the workplace is becoming more and more prevalent. Corporations in all industries are encouraging minorities, women, elderly workers, people with disabilities as well as foreign workers to join the dominant workforce in the workplace. Diversity of the workforce is clearly here to stay. Business owners and managers, experts say, will still need to maintain or step up efforts to recruit and advance ethnic minorities each year. Essentially, because having a diverse work force a gives the company a lot more advantages to their…

    • 1387 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Diversity In Workplace

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In today’s global marketplace, organizations are striving to understand the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Diversity in the workplace isn’t new topic and has evolved since the 1800’s. Improvements in diversity date back to the African American Civil Right Movement and the passing of the Civil Right Act of 1866. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 stated that all persons born in the United States would be recognized as citizens. The movement was reignited with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960, which resulted in the end of racial segregation and discrimination. Key events of the movement include Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, the March on Washington in 1963, the Civil Right Act of 1964, and several race riots to…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    • Ehlers, L. (2005) Human resource management practice. Module reading, ABSA management development program: 2005…

    • 3616 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Managing Diversity

    • 1845 Words
    • 8 Pages

    No two humans are alike. People are different not only in gender, culture, race, social and psychological characteristics but also in their perspectives and prejudices. Society had discriminated on these aspects for centuries. Women and minority groups were denied of their due rights. But not any more. Since 1960s, when federal legislation prohibited employment discrimination, minorities and female applicants have become the fastest-growing segment in the work force. Diversity makes the work-force heterogeneous. The work-force diversity used in the corporate world today is the varied characteristics of employees working in same organization. Despite the magnitude of the ethical, legal, economic, social, and political dimensions that define diversity initiatives in the workplace, the fields of human resource development and continuing professional education have yet to develop an integrated vision for creating more inclusive work environments. There are issues being raised. Dominant groups are not fully prepared to accept the reality. There are communication problems as well. But then there are enormous benefits as well. Keeping these aspects in mind, this paper will highlight various issues related to diversity.…

    • 1845 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays