Diversity In The Workplace
Business 200
Prof. Bill White
Diversity Defined
di·ver·si·ty (d -vûr s -t , d -)
n., pl. di·ver·si·ties.
The fact or quality of being diverse; difference.
A point or respect in which things differ.
Variety or multiformity: “Charles Darwin saw in the
diversity of species the principles of evolution that
operated to generate the species: variation,
competition and selection” (Scientific American).
Types of Diversity
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Gender
Age
Race
Ethnicity
Culture
Religion
Language/Accent
Disability
Height/Weight
Sexual Orientation
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Education
Job Title
Job Function
Job Skills
Union/Non-Union
Part-Time/Full-Time
Marital Status
Political affiliation
The Village Earth
• "If we could shrink the earth's
population to a village of precisely
100 people, with all the existing
human ratios remaining the same,
it would look something like the
following. There would be:
The Village Earth
• 57 Asians
21 Europeans; 14 from the Western
Hemisphere, both north and south
8 Africans
• 52 would be female
48 would be male
• 70 would be non-white
30 would be white
• 70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian
• 89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual
The Village Earth
• 6 people would possess 59% of the
entire world's wealth and all 6 would be
from the United States
• 80 would live in substandard housing
• 70 would be unable to read
• 50 would suffer from malnutrition
• 1 would be near death; 1 would be near
birth
• 1 (yes, only 1) would have a college
education
• 1 would own a computer
Diversity Consciousness Defined
Recognizing, appreciating, valuing,
and utilizing the unique talents
and contributions of all individuals
The Challenge of Workplace Diversity?
• The challenge lies in the continuous
improvement of the integration and social
acceptance of people from different
backgrounds.
• Our differing human characteristics influence
the way we think, act, interact, and make
choices.
• Often, these differences interfere with our ability
to support, trust, and respect each other, and thus
to effectively function together.
Areas of Workplace Diversity
• Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
– The active recruitment of women, minorities,
and other protected groups.
– The goal is to meet certain legal imperatives.
• EEOC
• Department of Justice
• Civil Rights
– The primary concern is meeting quotas, often
without concern for the survivability of these
individuals.
Areas of Workplace Diversity
• Managing Diversity
– The organization is diverse by default, and now
it must deal with it.
– The goal is to fix, cover-up, and/or defer the
problem with a minimum of hassle.
– The effort is top management-driven, thus
forced throughout the organization.
– The concern is more for a change in behavior
than attitudes.
Areas of Workplace Diversity
• Valuing Diversity
– The organization sees direct benefits from
incorporating diverse people and perspectives.
– INCLUSION: The goal is to change and/or
create a organizational culture that recognizes,
respects and encourages individual differences.
Diversity Bias
• Assumptions of Superiority
– I’m better than you.
• Assumptions of Correctness
– This is the way it should be
• Assumptions of Universality
– We’re all the same. Everybody is just like me.
Thoughts on Culture
• Everyone creates culture—every person, group, family,
organization.
• Culture is what everyone knows that everyone else knows. It is
a way of understanding and living in the world.
• Cultures are defined by their differences from other cultures.
The greater the difference, the more defined the culture.
• The most important aspects of culture are those not talked about.
• People from different cultures experience different realities.
• Most cultures accept differences in power and status, and
consider it normal. Primates always rank order.
• Most cultures value conformity, reward compliance, and punish
descent.
Hierarchy of Cultures
• World Culture
– Humanity
• Major Culture (e.g., U.S. culture)
– A regional or national group with a common culture
• Subculture (e.g., various immigrant groups)
– A cultural group within a major culture
• Corporate Culture
– An organization within a major culture or subculture
The White American Corporate Mind
As Driven By The Major American Culture
• Thinks in black &
white
• Loves individuality
and self-reliance
• Likes informality
• Can only speak
English
• Very direct. “Get to
the point.”
• Demand honesty at
the bargaining table
• Hates silence
• Persistence. “Don’t take
no for an answer.”
• One thing at a time,
sequentially
• “A deal is a deal, no
matter what.”
• “My mind is fixed.”
• Magic Words: Freedom,
democracy, America,
competition
Corporate Cultures
• Employee Expectations
– Old Economy: Security
– New Economy: Personal Growth
– Enron: Personal wealth
• Rewards
– Old Economy: Salary
– New Economy: Stock options
– Enron: Lightening quick promotions
Corporate Cultures
• Leadership
– Old Economy: Top down
– New Economy: Inspirational
– Enron: Know-it-all arrogant
• Organization
– Old Economy: Hierarchy
– New Economy: Network
– Enron: Individual fiefdoms
Corporate Cultures
• Corporate Goal
– Old Economy: Steady growth
– New Economy: Fast growth
– Enron: Appearing to grow fast
• Board of Directors
– Old Economy: Rubber stamp
– New Economy: Independent
– Enron: Rubber stamp
Corporate Cultures
• Approach to Legality/Morality
– Old Economy: Steady growth
– New Economy: Fast growth
– Enron: Appearing to grow fast
• Board of Directors
– Old Economy: Aim to meet the rules
– New Economy: Push the limits
– Enron: Circumvent the rules
Culture Comparisons
What words describe your culture versus another
• Most prominent personality characteristic.
• Most positive characteristic and/or
contribution.
• Worse characteristic and/or contribution.
• Characteristics as co-workers.
• What would you like to better know about
them.