Diversity management, a part of human resource management, involves the recognition, effective deployment and harmonisation of individual employee idiosyncrasies. No one thing or person is the same and is made up of different cultures and backgrounds. Primarily, this paper aims to make the concept of diversity management wellknown and useful in the managerial practices. What does it mean to be diverse and who is defining this. Employees should feel like they make a significant contribution to the organization using their unique qualities. The importance of diversity in the workplace there are clear signs in the latest leadership, employment and direction l. Within organizations, the management of diversity is a process of creating and maintaining a discrimination free workplace. The diversity of something is the fact that it contains many very different elements. How approaches to diversity have evolved the meaning of diversity fluctuates partly because the concept is still evolving, and under rather difficult conditions. As per the merriamwebster dictionary, diversity is the condition of having or being composed of differing elements. Such a common organisational culture and climate leads to better human relations in the enterprise and produces allround organisational and managerial. Diversity in the boardroom article 1 what is board diversity.
Successful diversity management helps managers to maximise employees knowledge and expertise to better achieve organisational objectives allen et al. Cultural diversity, communication, learning, cultural stratifications 1. A contextual and interview study of managers and ethnic minority employees in finland and france. The practice of addressing and supporting multiple lifestyles and personal characteristics within a defined group. Further, diversity management can create a competitive advantage in areas such as recruitment, retention, marketing, problem solving, and resource acquisition e. Diversity is a set of conscious practices that involve. Advantages and disadvantages of diversity management. Workforce diversity management aims at developing and nurturing a common organisational culture and climate. Therefore, diversity management is not the sole domain of the hr function in the organization as has been the case with affirmative or positive. Nrcs diversity management strategy is based on a commitment from managers, supervisors, and employees at the individual, group, and organizational levels. The underlying assumptions shaping the meanings of diversity management 3. Workplace diversity definition diversity management the.
The boston consulting group, a management consulting firm, takes an approach to diversity that borrows from ecology. It includes positive and negative influences of diversity management and the theoretical. Best practices include effective use ofexecutive diversity councils,mentoring and sponsorship programsandemployee resource groupsto achieve desired results in recruitment, retention and. The term diversity management indicates the implementation of strategies or policies to knit a network of varied individuals together into a dynamic work force. In recent years, diversity is increasingly perceived as an important issue in the context of business management. Diversity is a commitment to recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics that make individuals unique in an atmosphere that promotes and celebrates individual and collective achievement. Diversity takes various forms in a boardroom and can be broadly categorised into the following elements. Oct 26, 2017 the term diversity management indicates the implementation of strategies or policies to knit a network of varied individuals together into a dynamic work force. Workplace diversity definition diversity management. Our goal is for all employees to support the comprehensive diversity management plan and its objectives. Diversity management in the workplace article pdf available in acta universitatis agriculturae et silviculturae mendelianae brunensis 643. Diversity meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Diversity in the hpm department can refer to social diversity race, education background, culture, hometown,etc. Managing diversity is a significant organizational challenge, so managerial skills must adapt to accommodate a multicultural work environment.
Diversity, difference and diversity management helda university. These include people who are visible minorities, women in nontraditional or management roles, persons with disabilities, and aboriginal people. Successful strategies link diversity progress directly to business results. Employment equity is a term that was coined by judge abella in. This paper critically analyses the workforce diversity and its impact on productivity of an organization. Understanding that diversity includes not only ways of being but also ways of knowing. Diversity is a phenomenon which is increasingly manifesting itself in the globalized society. If organizations strive to improve their competitive advantage in the market, then they must learn how to successfully manage a diverse workforce.
Defining management and organization 1 in this era of globalization accompanied by complexity, ambiguity, rapid change, and diversity, managing an organization is a difficult task. Apr 24, 2017 as per the merriamwebster dictionary, diversity is the condition of having or being composed of differing elements. Jun 05, 2014 diversity in the workplace is a reality in most businesses and organizations. It refers to nothing more than variance or difference. More people are vying for jobs today than when affirmative action was first introduced.
Diversity management in hrm managing diversity in the workplace. In response to the growing diversity in the workforce around the world, many companies have instituted specific policies and programs to enhance recruitment, inclusion, promo. Which are the principles of diversity management for the implementation in a business. Age, sex, ethnicity and nationality, creed or disabilities are among the parameters of diversity.
Cultural diversity and information and communication. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 2 advantages. This has therefore resulted in numerous definitions that cannot and should not be mentioned in this. Stephen butler, cochair of the businesshigher education forum, believes diversity is an invaluable competitive asset robinson 2002.
The literature on diversity management has mostly emphasized on organization culture. Diversity management is the strategy of using best practices with proven results to find and create a diverse and inclusive workplace. Indeed, decades of research suggest that intolerance hurts our wellbeingand that individuals thrive when they are able to tolerate and. Diversity means more than just acknowledging andor tolerating difference. In some organizations, diversity is strictly focused upon race, gender, religion, and disability status. They cannot be named, but without their input this book would not exist. Diversity programs focus on providing employment opportunities to minority groups or recent immigrants.
The concept of multicultural and diversity management encompasses acceptance and respect, recognition and valuing of individual differences. Challenges exist in guiding a population that differs in personalities and cultures, but. Supervisors and managers need to recognize the ways in which the workplace is changing and evolving. While there is no consensus among diversity management practitioners about purpose, methods, outcomes and values, a working definition of the field is. Many scholars, as well as practitioners in organizational contexts have emphasized for some decades the importance of managing diversity in organizations as. In this section we will discuss various models that explain diversity. Diversity management is a process intended to create and maintain a positive work environment where the similarities and differences of individuals are valued. Diversity definition is the condition of having or being composed of differing elements.
The following are the two types of diversity management. Some people define diversity as the four employment equity groups. Methodology 10 regarding the development of diversity management in swedish companies one of the fundamental issues is that of the management. Diversity is defined as otherness or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the grou. For the greater good science center, diversity refers to both an obvious fact of human lifenamely, that there are many different kinds of peopleand the idea that this diversity drives cultural, economic, and social vitality and innovation.
Diversity management implementierung im wissenschaftlichen vergleich. The process of creating and maintaining an environment which enables all employeesregardless of physical abilities and cultural backgroundto reach their full potential while pursuing organisational objectives. Diversity definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Based on his 20 years of experience as a ceo, fayol. Diversity management is a process intended to create and maintain a positive work environment where the similarities and differences of individuals are valued, so that all can reach their potential and maximize their contributions to an organizations strategic goals and objectives. Apr 10, 2020 diversity management is a strategy that is intended to foster and maintain a positive workplace environment. For example, having different races, genders, ages, and ethnicities of people in one place is showing great diversity. Understanding and appreciating interdependence of humanity, cultures, and the natural environment. Diversity is in, much to the dismay of defenders of the past, the likes of arthur m. The business directorydescribes the definition of diversity management as, the practice of addressing and supporting multiple lifestyles and personal characteristics within a defined group.
Diversity definition of diversity by merriamwebster. Introduction culture is a word with many shades of meaning. Also diversity can be the different opinions of individuals. Diversity is defined here in a broad sense as human groupings based on race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, learning styles, nationality and. Survey results that organisations are slowly awakening to the positive benefits available through a diverse workforce. Intranational diversity management refers to managing a workforce that comprises citizens or immigrants in a single national context. Here at uc berkeley, we value your growth and development throughout your career journey. The pursuit of diversity and diversity management in europe is the inevitable consequence of globalization. Managing diversity is a key component of effective people management in the workplace black enterprise 2001. Management activities includes educating the group and providing support for the acceptance of and respect for various racial, cultural, societal, geographic, economic and political backgrounds.
It is an axiom of our times that our world is rapidly changing. However, the problem is that organisational managers behave in terms of organisational and personal cultural backgrounds. Many diversity plans give the word a comprehensive meaning, such as. Managing diversity definition of managing diversity by. Inclusion of a diverse group of people and ideas from various backgrounds. Hiring a diverse staff for your business creates a workforce that possesses a wide range of skills, talents and ideas. Diversity management refers to the voluntary organizational actions that are designed to create greater inclusion of.
Thank you all for not only your time, but also for your courage to share, at times very painful, experiences, with me. To analyse diversity by taking into account these power mechanisms implies the continuous search for the peripheral position, as well as for the silenced aspects of each and every event, to search for a kind of multicultural intersubjectivity. Definitions of workforce diversity, diversity and diversity management. Diversity is defined as differences between people, that can include dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs. Diversity management uses applied behavioral science methodology, research and. Diversity management learn about the types and best practices.
Aluko, olabisi onabanjo university, nigeria abstract. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in. Yet, good management is critical for the survival of an organization. Usually, when we come across the term, it is in the context of having a mix of gender, race, ethnic, sexual orientation etc in a setting wherein there is no discrimination based on these traits. Hence, workforce diversity is the biggest challenge and at the same times the biggest opportunity for the 21st century managers. This document is designed to help managers effectively. Diversity management is a strategy to promote the perception, acknowledgement and. Skills, expertise and experience having the optimal mix of skills, expertise and experience is paramount to ensure that the board. In current scenario, employing diversified workforce is a necessity for every organization but to manage such diversified workforce is also a big challenge for management. Meanings range from a state or fact of being diverse or different, to a variety of opinions.
Diversity management is an emerging field of theory, research, teaching and practice. Management being a social discipline deals with the behavior of people and human insight. Enduring systems comprise a broad variety of agents, which behave and respond to external stimuli in varying ways. Diversity is the inclusion of things, people, and places that are different. Youll learn more about fayol and managements other key contributors when you read about the history of management in chapter 2. Diversity management in hrm managing diversity in the. Practicing mutual respect for qualities and experiences that are different from our own.
Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in multicultural organizations patrick a. Diversity management is a process intended to create and maintain a positive work environment where the similarities and differences of individuals. Usually initiated by human resources professionals and managed by department heads and supervisors, an effective diversity management program will promote recognition and respect for the individual differences found among a group of. Best practices include effective use of executive diversity councils, mentoring and sponsorship programs and employee resource groups. Definitions of diversity jmc programs have created a smorgasbord of definitions for diversity. Bringing together various groups of people spanning many races, ages, backgrounds, future interests and. It is your job to make the most of the diversity present in your company.
Management activities includes educating the group and providing support for the acceptance of and respect for various racial, cultural, societal, geographic, economic and. Introduction when people think of diversity, they may think first of ethnicity and race, and then gender. In a workplace, diversity management requires an environment of inclusion. Introduction to organizational diversity meaning and.
Introduction to organizational diversity we often hear the term diversity bandied about in our everyday usage. I feel very honoured that you showed me such confidence. What com plicates the management of the differ ence is not the difference itself, but the nature and the meaning of the differ ence as perceived by the individual and others. This paper critically analyses the workforce diversity and.