Primary Dimensions of Diversity

MAN 3025 Sean Guyon

Chapter 6 Thursday night lecture

1. The primary dimensions of diversity are: age, gender, and ethnicity. Others dimensions are single parents, dual careers, gays, lesbians, people with dietary needs.

2. The cost argument suggests that organizations that manage diversity have higher levels of productivity and lower levels of turnover and absenteeism.

The resource acquisition argument suggests that organizations that manage diversity become known among women and minorities as good places to work.

The marketing argument suggests that organizations that manage diversity are better able to understand market segments than less diverse organizations.

The creativity argument suggests that organizations that manage diversity are generally more creative and innovative than other organizations.

The problem-solving argument suggests that organizations that manage diversity the unique information is larger; there is a higher probability that better solutions can be identified.

The systems flexibility argument suggests that organizations that manage diversity that organization become more flexible, and the overall organizational system also becomes more flexible. And better responds to changes in the environment.

3. The four basic individual approaches are:

Understanding: that difference amongst people does exist.

Empathy: understand the perspective of others.

Tolerance: accept others and their difference and know the difference so that you can manage tolerance.

Willingness to communicate: open verbal communication; openly discuss issues that relate to diversity or multiculturalism.

The four basic organizational approaches are:

Organizational policies: policies that an organization adopts that directly or indirectly affect how people are treated.

Organizational practices: providing a variety of ongoing practices and procedures, make attempts to accommodate special needs of employees.

Diversity and Multicultural...