Organizational Management

Diversity in Organizations

Brian Davis

Ashford University

Organizational Behavior

BUS 610

Dr. Lee Meadows

April 19, 2010

Diversity in Organizations

With America being the melting pot of the world, the workplace has become a diverse and multicultural setting. Many large organizations have taken steps with diversity training to promote an understanding place of work. Webster’s dictionary defines diversity as: the condition of being diverse; variety; especially; the inclusion of diverse people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization . There are many experts in the diversity training field that have implemented many successful strategies. “Ann Morrison, a diversity expert, conducted a study of 16 organizations that successfully managed diversity. Her results uncovered three key strategies for success, education, enforcement, and exposure.” (Kreitner, 2003) Implementing successful cultural diversity training is not as easy as it sounds. Many factors need to be taken into account.

Education is a key to a successful program. “The education component of the strategy has two thrusts: one is to prepare nontraditional managers for increasingly responsible posts, and the other is to help traditional managers overcome their prejudice in thinking about and interacting with people who are of a different sex or ethnicity.” (Kreitner, 2003) With a successful education program it will help co workers understand each other a little better; also it will allow managers to understand their employees. “The second component of the strategy, enforcement, puts teeth in the diversity goals and encourages behavior change.” (Kreitner, 2003) Without enforcement of a program the program is nothing. “The third component, exposure to people with different backgrounds and characteristics, adds a more personal approach to diversity by helping managers get to know and respect others who are different.” (Kreitner, 2003)

The...