Submitted by: Submitted by chanelL
Views: 590
Words: 833
Pages: 4
Category: Other Topics
Date Submitted: 12/02/2010 11:15 AM
"Diversity refers to human qualities that are different from our own and those of groups to which we belong; but that are manifested in other individuals and groups. Dimensions of diversity include but are not limited to: age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities / qualities, race, sexual orientation, educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs, work experience, and job classification." (Foothill-De Anza Community College District, 2006)
Diversity in the workplace is a topic that many industries and organizations spend a plentiful amount of time and training on in order to guarantee its presence. Today's workplace is more diverse than it has ever been in history. While the workforce has made progress in the direction of equality, it is still far from accomplishing total equality in the workplace. A company must value diversity. The main purposes of valuing diversity include awareness, education, and positive recognition of the differences among people in the workforce. Organizations are increasingly emphasizing group work or teamwork as a source of competitive advantage in a diverse workforce. It has been suggested that such organizations must target their recruitment efforts at applicants who are both diverse and amenable to working in teams.
Envision that you are a highly qualified former Hispanic executive who was recently laid off from a fortune 500 hundred company. Within that company you held several key roles in which you were crucial to the success of the organization. In the previous roles you may have never really understood the need or the process of managing diversity. You hold several advanced degrees in key business fields even with all of your experience education and the economy flourishing you can’t seem to find a job comparable to where you were. You happen to buy a copy of the Wall Street Journal and on the front page is the article below: “Hispanics are the...