Diversity in the Workplace

Diversity in The Workforce

Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. “It encompasses more than just race, it also includes gender, ethnic groups, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education and more (Greenberg, 2011).” IBM uses workforce diversity to differentiate itself as one of the world’s greatest companies. Members of management recognize and see the value of a culture of diversity and inclusiveness. IBM understands it as an essential part of how they attract and retain the best talent.

IBM currently does business in 75 countries worldwide (Thrill & Bovee, 2010, p.63). It employees 350,000 people and they speak 165 different languages (Thrill & Bovee, 2010, p. 63). A company with such a diverse workforce requires commitment from its leaders to promote the value of diversity. Ronald C. Glover is IBM’s Vice President of Diversity and Workforce Programs (Thrill & Bovee, 2010, p. 63). Glover and IBM understand that to succeed in today’s fast paced, ever changing, technological world, mirroring clients in the workforce is essential (Greenberg, 2011).

There are several advantages to having a diverse workforce. A diverse workforce offers a broader range of view points and ideas (Thrill & Bovee, 2010, p. 64). A diverse workforce that feels comfortable communicating varying points of view provide a larger pool of ideas and experiences to pull from to find solutions to problems (Greenberg, 2011). It also offers a “better understanding of diverse fragmental markets (Thrill & Bovee, 2010, p. 64).” A diverse collection of skills and experiences such as language and cultural understanding allow a company to provide better services to customers in a larger global market. Finally, diversity in the workforce brings a “broader pool of talent from which to recruit (Thrill & Bovee, 2010, p. 64).” Companies, such as IBM that value diversity in the workforce inspire employees...