Definition Of Diversity Paper

According to Ozbilgin (2008), diversity is one of the top global issues and requires management attention. There are both benefits and challenges in managing diversity. However, Golnaz and Hoa (2002) stated that most organizations agree that diversity is a reality and while managing the same, it can be either an asset or a hindrance towards goals (Gleason 2004). Diversity helps the organization become proactive and flexible to new aspects and scenarios (Pwc 2011). To manage a successful diverse workforce, organisations need to promote self-awareness, openness, clear-headedness, adaptability, candour and egalitarianism. This can be a challenging task due to complex human behaviour and biases (Parkin 2009).

What is diversity ? Well, to me , diversity is embrace differences between people and respect and evaluate other as an individual and not as a whole. As an Asian female raised in the U.S by an immigrant mother, I was fortunate enough to have never encounter a racist comment or act towards myself or anyone else around me. Until today, November 10, 2016, two days after Trump got elected. Like any other weekend, I would sometimes traveled to UMD (also a school that I was looking into) to visit my boyfriend. He has a roomate, who I first thought was pretty chill. He would seem to be very welcoming when I would come visit. Although, I knew that he was voting for Trump ; a candidate that I strongly disagree with, I would still respect my boyfriend's

Is there a proper way to define diversity? Personally I define diversity by how everybody is unique in their own way. Rather it be by race, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, political beliefs, etc. It’s about giving everybody a chance, even if you don’t believe or agree with their values or beliefs. Looking past the differences, but recognizing and respecting them. Learning to understand others, even when you don’t see eye to eye. Just because you have a different view than another individual, doesn’t put them in the wrong. Talking about the differences can start a good conversation between two individuals. When conversing with other individuals you want to do so in a positive nurturing way. Don’t make them feel uncomfortable about the differences, because that just makes the situation difficult. Welcome them and don’t let them feel out of place.

Over the decades, diversity in the workplace has started to become a business necessity. But what does diversity actually mean? In broad terms, diversity encompasses a group of people with different biological characteristics such as age, race, gender, ethnicity disability and so on. However, the true definition of diversity in the workplace is about ensuring that every single person that goes to work everyday have the freedom to bring along their full self to work and it is not just about welcoming but it is about embracing and harnessing the diversity of thought, the diversity of background, the diversity of experience, the diversity in education, and not just the traditional aspects in diversity. Even so, one of the major challenges that

With a shift in demographics in the last decade, workplace diversity has become one of the main concerns for companies. Diversity is now based upon race, gender, ethnicity, disabilities, and sexual orientations. A diverse company will seek individuals who bring “unique perspectives or outlooks to the organization” (Shackelford, 2003). Workplace diversity allows for each individual to have an equal chance no matter what his or her demographic is. Diversity in the workplace also shows that the company is not discriminatory.

Diversity is engagement across racial and ethnic lines consist of a broad and varied set of activities and initiative (Milem, Chang, and Antonio 2005). Diversity is about recognizing that each individual is unique and have differences. These differences include the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs or other ideologies. Diversity is meant to bring respect, understanding, and tolerance, accepting, embracing the different dimension of diversity. Student’s that report frequently hanging out with persons of a different racial/ethnic background are more likely to report that their understanding of people different from them has increased.

Workforce Diversity defines the visible or invisible differences among employees of an organization and could be divided in to three major components such as Primary, Secondary and Organizational and Community. Factors such as Age, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Ethnicity represents Primary while Appearance, Educational Background, Marital Status, Work experience represents Secondary and Job position, Specialization, Nationality, Life stage represents Organizational and Community. In recent years, organizations spend more in diversity management as most of the organizations consist with employees from different backgrounds. Further, diversity in an organization is a significant factor that may affect the performance of an organization positively or negatively. For example, it can create innovation, empowerment, information sharing, and productivity when well managed and can cause discrimination, power play, miscommunication and control when managed poorly.

Diversity is really what makes a person different from another. How they grew up, how they look, the way they think, their culture, how much money they have, where they are from…it really encompasses anything that sets you apart from the person standing next to you. At least that’s the way I think of it. The funny thing about diversity is that at the heart of it, when it really comes down to it, it’s about people, and people are just people. Kids are kids, parents are parents, teenagers are teenagers, this is something my mother keeps telling me over and over. We all laugh and love, and we all hurt. Deep down, we are all really made the same…we are all human beings. But diversity is really what makes things interesting I guess, I mean

Interpretations of the term ‘workplace diversity’ vary between organisations. Simply, the term can be understood as the ability of an organisation to ensure “…that

In order to investigate that what will it take for organizations to reap the real and full benefits of a diverse workforce, a research effort taken by the article author’s team. In order to understand three management challenges for Diversity, it conducted its research over a period of six years. The challenges undertaken were:

Ever since the beginning of the 21st century , the concept of diversity has been metamorphosed into concept of tremendous sensibility and controversy. However without diversity society as whole would not function;additionally,diversity prompts people into union.

Management must promote the contribution of each diverse perspective as well as to recognize and appreciate wide-ranging cultural differences. Another reason organizations are embracing is the fact that the diversity in their employees has a direct impact on the diversity of their consumers and customer base. However, there are also issues managers must contend with such as a lack of cohesiveness, interpersonal conflicts, difficulties in decision making and communication, and lastly resistant to change (Nelson, 2013, p. 53). Finally, managing and placing value on diversity in the workplace is not as much changing in company policy as it is changing mindsets and attitudes. Diversity should be a corporate value, a top priorityfor managers, and a vital objective for any organization along with becoming a foundation to the organizations strategic blueprint. Diversity does have its advantages; the benefits of diversity include attracting and retaining the best employees, as well as improved marketing efforts, superior problem solving, and enhanced flexibility within the organization along with the obvious creativity and innovation diversity brings (Nelson, 2013, p.

In conclusion, others’ should recognize their similarities not their differences. The official definition of diversity is the state of being different. Diversity means accepting a variety of peoples’ characteristics to me. I believe others can deal with diversity if they learn to accept it. Racism, sexual orientation, and religion are three important groups of diversity. People like Harvey Milk and Martin Luther King Jr. have worked for people to love others for who they are. They want people to see others differently. Kids should be comfortable in an environment even if they differ from others. Bullying and stereotypes are

In the current fierce competitive global market, diversity management remains critically advantageous if any firm should make progress. Organizations must integrate diversity in their thoughts, actions and innovations. Diversity in organizations goes beyond making numbers to how people are treated in relation to its business model. It’s a time-sensitive necessity in the current workplace. Diversity cannot be bought or lip serviced. Based on authenticity, diversity is people-centered. It responds holistically to the dire needs of both the employees and clients. Long term strategies must therefore be considered so that diverse talents are engaged in the leadership circle. It is important that diversity management be driven by innovative perspectives.

Diversity is a term that we can all relate to in some way or another. The term diversity represents the multitude of individual differences that make people different from and similar to each other, (Kinicki&Kreitner, 2009). Although some people view diversity as an issue of age, race, gender, religion, or sexual preference, it is actually much more than that. It actually pertains to the differences that make each individual special or unique and this is why it becomes important to learn how to interact and grow with one another. In order for this to take place in the workplace, establishing a strong diversity management program is essential to the success of any organization.