CSIT 120 DIVERSITY NOTES

Diversity- refers to all the ways in which people are different. This includes
individual, group, and cultural differences.

Cultural landscape- referring to the different lifestyles, traditions, and
perspectives that can be found in the US and throughout the world. Also for
example: we have a lot of immigration, different languages, and religion,
workplace.

Included in work place jobs now are translators, flexible work schedules for
mother and fathers with children. Work/life policies, including paid and
unpaid time, dependents care, flextime, and telecommuting are becoming
huge considerations for men and woman work flexibility.


Millennials are people born from 1980 to 2000. They are not uniformed
about technology.
Globalization – the growing interdependence of people and cultures has
accerlated in the twenty first century. Globalization impacts all individuals.

Technological advances have transformed our social world into what
Marshall Mcluhan termed a global village. No such thing as an “American
Job” in a flat world, factors such as immigration contribute to this.


Cultural cruise control- acting as though our own values, beliefs and
experiences are universal.
DIVERSITY MYTHS: 1) diversity= woman+minorities….no diversity includes
everyone. 2) Diversity is a new phenomenon….no there has always been
diversity but now it has been receiving more attention. 3) Diversity=
Deficiency…..this is a myth based on the premise that diversity results in
standards being lowered. Today, professionals increasingly view diversity as
a resource rather than a deficit. 4) Diversity= Divisiveness….being exposed
to diversity can bring people together. 5) Diversity is to be feared……..how
we approach diversity can make all the difference. If we approach it with a
sense of humility and a sincere desire to learn more about others and
ourselves, it will not be something to be feared or avoid.

Diversity Skills : Flexible Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, Leadership,
And social networking and the ability to overcome social and personal
barriers.

Diversity Consciousness- it is the awareness, understanding, skills that allow
us to think through and value human differences. DEVELOPING OUR
DIVERSITY CONSCIOUSNESS can help us become successful at school for
example, learning styles, appreciating your heritage, ability to deal
effectively with barriers, to balance “fitting in” and “being yourself” IT CAN
bring success at work for example, interpersonal skills, teamwork skills,
cultural awareness and understanding, self-education skills.

Blended learning- the integration of online and traditional face to face
approaches of learning.

Cultural Competence- refers to a set of attitudes and skills that make it
possible for organizations and staff not only to acknowledge cultural
differences but incorporate these differences in working with people from
various cultures.

Personal barriers- refer to those individual factors that get in the way of our
success.

Social barriers- focus more on society, they refer to those factors that are
external to the person and impede her or his success. Among these barriers
are the perceptions, thoughts, and actions of others.


BARRIER 1) Perceptions- refer to the way in which we receive and interpret
information from any of our senses.
Selective Perception- perceive what we want to perceive, focusing on those
things that support our thinking and ignore information in neat, simple
categories.


BARRIER 2) Ethnocentrism- refers to the assumption that our way of
thinking and acting is naturally superior to any other.
BARRIER 3) Stereotypes- an unverified and oversimplified generalization
about an entire group of people.

BARRIER 4) Prejudice- an irrational and inflexible opinion formed on the
basis of limited and insufficient knowledge. For example, xenophobiapeoples unreasonable fear of foreigners. (Prejudice affects you in becoming
a source of distraction, resulting in resentment and in fear, impact one’s
health)

BARRIER 5) Prejudice plus power. Power- refers to the ability to influence
others and bring about change. For example, institutional racism- that is
built into the customs =, norms, and practices of social institutions.


BARRIER 6) Discrimination- the denial of equal rights and opportunities to
individuals and groups.
Synergy- The concept that members of a team interacting cooperatively will
accomplish much more than if they act alone.

Developing teamwork skills: 1) Communication 2) Conflict management
3)Empathy 4) self-evaluation 5) Leadership. Also Make sure you understand
your role and teams goals, respect ideas and feelings of others, Manage
conflict effectively, Continue to build relations with other team members,
think and act like a team, Decenter ad recenter, Avoid groupthink, be
flexible, Periodically assess the teams performance.

Digital natives- younger people born or raised during the age of digital
technologies.

Digital immigrants- people who were not born into the digital world but
learned the language and the new technology later in life.

Echo chamber- a situation in which like minded members of online
communities echo our opinions and beliefs back to us.

Microaggresions- daily insults or indignities that demean and stigmatize
people who are perceieved as different, can migrate from real life to virtual
life, and the affect of online microaggresions mirrors what takes place
offline.

OBSTACLES TO TEAMWORK: 1) Social Values 2) Sterotypes 3) Unequal
distribution of power 3) Disagreement over the roles of team members or
the teams mission 4) Disagreement over the roles o team members or the
teams mission 5) Unequal treatment 6) Unequal treatment or perception of
unequal treatment 7) Miscommuincation 8) Lack of trust

Leadership- the process by which people inspire, influence, and empower
others to achieve a common goal.

Orpheus process- a process in which the sharing of leadership allows
everybody to work together and maximize their expertise and creativity.

Diversity- conscious leadership- the process by which people influence and
empower others by recognizing, understanding, and adjusting to diversity
in all its forms.

MYTHS ABOUT A DIVERSITY CONSCIOUS LEADER: 1) THEIR “PEOPLE
PERSONS” Reality is there is nothing natural about the ability to relate to
others effectively. People develop and improve their competencies in this
area. 2) TO BE THIS LEADER ITS AN EXTREME RARE ABILITY. Reality is
everyone has the potential to be a diversity conscious leader. 3) THEY ARE
INTELLECTUAL BRILLIANT. Reality is brilliance is not a precondition for
diversity consiouness. People with “average” capacities can be this leader.
4) THESE LEADERS ARE CHARISMATIC EXTROVERTS. Reality is some are but
many are not. 5) THIS LEADER MUST BE ABLE TO PERSUADE AND
CONTROL PEOPLE IN SPITE OF THEIR DIFFERENCES. Reality is its not about
the exercise of power as the empowerment of others.

Instrumental leaders—tend to focus more on the task at hand ad less on
how the group members get along.

Expressive leaders- primary concern is the well being of group members
and their ability to work as a unit.

LEADERSHIP STYLES – REFER TO THE WAY WE INFLUENCE OTHERS. For
example, authoritarian leaders- make all or most of the decisions and keep
power to themselves. Democratic leaders- share power and encourage
people discussion and decision making. Laissez faire leaders- minimally
involve themselves in decision making and encourage group members to
make their own decisions.

Indiviualism – reinforces people’s reliance on self, and encourages a greater
concern with one’s own interests. For example, AUSTRAILIA,
NEITHERLANDS, US, GREAT BRITAIN.

Collectivism- reinforces a greater reliance on the group and a greater
concern for the welfare of all concerned. For example, SINGAPORE, JAPAN,
PAKISTAN, COLOMBIA.

Inclusion- refers to the process of promoting a sense of belonging and
empowerment by involving everyone and valuing their unique talents and
contributuions.

Inclusive workplace- an environment that welcomes and utilizes diversity at
all levels.

Generation X born between 1965-1980 to be more open to interacial
marriage, gay couples raising children, non traditional family agreements.

Cohort effect- refers to the unique historical experiences that can shape
and mold a generations thinking and behaviors.


Millienials, the largest generation in the history of the US.
Period effect- major, life altering events like wars, natural disaters, social
movements, and techonological advancesthhat impact all generations but
some more than others.


Baby boomers born 1946-1964
Silent generation born 1928-1945 and greatest generation born prior to
1928.

Life cycle effect- the transformation of an age cohorts behaviors and
attitudes over time due to changes in the roles people play and their
biological maturation.