Introduction
Workplace diversity practices refer to efforts organizations engage in to provide an
inclusive corporate culture that values differences and promotes opportunities for all
employees.
Traditionally, diversity programs have focused mostly on race and gender and other
physical dimensions. However, today*ƒ*…½*ƒ‚¦s definition of diversity covers a broad
spectrum of individual and group differences ranging from work styles and generational
perspectives to political and religious preferences. The illustration below represents how
diversity can be understood from a corporate/business point of view:
Under the umbrella of diversity practices, organizations are employing methods of
understanding and relationship-building that encourage the voices of all employees to be
heard and embraced. To gain a competitive advantage, organizations are learning that
perspectives of diverse employee groups add value and creativity to organizations*ƒ*…
½*ƒ‚¦ strategic direction. The practice of embracing and leveraging differences for the
benefit of the organization through the collaboration of cultures, ideas and experience is
something most organizations strive to achieve in today*ƒ*…½*ƒ‚¦s global marketplace.
The Importance of Diversity
Diversity is even more relevant due to the interconnectivity of global markets. The world
no longer operates in silos, nor do businesses. To remain competitive, organizations must
understand the preferences and needs of their diverse customer base, which may include
ethnic and cultural groups that go beyond simply race and gender. The intricacies of
knowledge necessary to serve a wider market share require that organizational leadership
rely upon a conglomeration of ideas.
Successful management of today*ƒ*…½*ƒ‚¦s increasingly diverse workforce is among the
most important global challenges faced by corporate leaders, human resource managers,
