How To Manage Diversity In The Workplace

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Running head: DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE WORKPLACE 1

Diversity Management Strategies in the Workplace

Different ways to manage diversity in the workplace

Kristine Chooey

Notre Dame De Namur University

Abstract

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE WORKPLACE 2

Managing in general has its own challenges and tribulations, but managing diverse

cultures in the workplace can add to the challenge. We will touch base on the multiple types of

diversity and ways to manage them. Managers learning to be able to direct various groups are

beneficial to a company’s success and growth. As we enter a world that is vastly different but can

have individual’s work cohesively is the positive element of what makes a company work so

well. Employees and managers with different types of experiences are able to bring those

experiences into the work force. Once doing so managers must learn how to make sure those

units all work as cohesively as possible while being empathetic to each individual’s background.

This paper will touch base on the multiple types of diversity such as genders, ages, importance of

languages, language barriers, race, and etc.

Diverse employees come into workspaces with different ideas, experiences and

understandings, it is the managers job to ensure that they are not only receiving the support that

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE WORKPLACE 3

they need but can also mold to their personalities. Diversity comes in different types, such as

race, gender, family, language, work style, age, etc. A good manager knows how to adapt to each

of their employees personalities and apply them correctly to the work environment. In this paper,

I will touch base upon what diversity is, the importance of work diversity, learning from different

cultures, what would be the cause and effect of not having diversity in the work place, and the

impact that diversity has in the work place. “In order to become more aware of cultural

differences and their impact on the workplace, we need to change the way we think about

diversity and review our approach to culture” (Quappe & Cantatore Culturosity.com)

Analyzing all angles of managing diversity one needs to understand the root of what

diversity is, in the dictionary diversity is described to be “the inclusion of individuals

representing more than one national origin, color, religion, socioeconomic stratum, sexual

orientation, etc.”(Dictionary.com) This description explains that diversity comes in many

different shapes and forms. Today’s society includes different types of individuals that surround

us in our work environments. No one person has the same work, life; family experience as the

next and their diverse culture is what makes companies grow. Why is diversity important for a

company’s growth one might ask? “A diverse workforce combines workers from different

backgrounds and experiences that together can breed a more creative, innovative, and productive

workforce. And businesses have learned that they can draw upon our nation’s diversity to

strengthen their bottom line.” (American Press, Kerby and Burns) Company’s run on the

diversity of their employees, supervisors, managers and it is important to be able to nurture those

diversity’s to making a business better. “The emerging multicultural society poses new questions:

How can we understand each other better, how can we avoid misinterpretations, how can we

manage our difference, and how can we use our differences to produce creative solution for the

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE WORKPLACE 4

organization?” (Quappe & Cantatore Culturosity.com) We must analyze from all corners of

diversity to understand how to manage them. Managing diversity is key to growth and success

and to be able to harness the ability to understand the culture of diversity is imperative.

America is home to many different diverse cultures and backgrounds. The San Francisco

and Bay Area has approximately 4.5 million people, many which consist of different

nationalities, age, male or female, born here or moved here, have or do not have an education, or

have or don’t have work experience. “When human resources channels and harnesses varied

skills, specialized competencies and distinctive capabilities of employees of multiple races and

minority classes, it can result in creative solutions for problems and better organizational

productivity.” (Small Business, Dutta) Different types of people can bring multiple types of life

experiences to the table. That is what diversity is, bringing different types of people to be able to

work in a cohesive environment. “According to the U.S Department of Labor, the number of

African – American, Asian, Native American, and Hispanic Americans represented just 7.6% of

the workforce 50 years ago. (Quappe & Cantatore Culturosity.com) Everyday more and more

diverse culture enter the work space, and managers must be up to date on how they are able to

productively manages different backgrounds.

Managing in general has its problems, and to add people from different backgrounds

enhances the manager’s sense of knowledge of working with different people. Managing diverse

cultures can be difficult but does not have to be if a manager is able and willing to adapt to their

work environment. “Human behavior is too complex to be explained by one sweeping

generalization”(Gibson Pg.89) Three main topics to cover for managing diverse personalities in

the work place would be “perception, attitudes, and personality.”(Gibson Pg.89) These three

topics are key to understanding the psychological variables of managing diversity.” To

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understand individual differences, managers must (1) observe and recognize the differences, (2)

study the variables that influence individual behavior and (3) discover relationships among the

variables.”(Gibson Pg.89) Once able to specify these different types in dealing with diversity

then they will be able to solve each diversity issue that arises.

Managers need to observe and recognize the different backgrounds each employee brings

to the table. It is imperative to keep in mind that not everyone is the same and can bring different

types of life, and work experiences to the work environment. “Everyone, employees, supervisors,

and managers, play a key role in transforming the organizational culture, so that it more closely

reflects the values and potential of our diverse work force” (Quappe & Cantatore

Culturosity.com) Managers should first observe the qualifications employees posse in their

resumes and job applications. Are they fit to do the work and can their personal experiences be