Diversity

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Diversity
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Goals

• Research is clear
• Diversity can provide a competitive advantage.
• Non-diverse work forces are easier to manage than
  diverse work forces.
• Discuss both
• Regardless, risks if firms do not respect
  diversity. Labor productivity should diminish or
  labor costs increase.

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Diversity

• Represent the multitude of individual differences
  and similarities that exist among people.
• Usually focuses on demographic and social.

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Why do so many firms value diversity?

• Lower labor costs, better attitudes and lower
  turnover
• Better recruiting
• Creativity, innovation, group problem solving.
• Increased sales, market share.

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Challenges of diversity Book lists more

• More difficult because stereotypes/bias
• Reverse discrimination (self-centeredness)
• Ethnocentrism
• Revamp performance appraisal and reward systems.
• Poor career planning and development
• Unsupportive work environment

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Case

• What would you do and why? Explain your
  response.
• Aware information is not complete.

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Generic Actions

• Include exclude
• Deny
• Assimilate
• Suppress
• Isolate
• Tolerate
• Build relationships
• Foster mutual adaptation.

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Video on Drug Users
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Summary

• Dealing with diversity is not easy.
• Tend to have work values rather than diverse
  values.
• To manage diversity, if diversity is valued, need
  to give all employees reasonable accommodation.
• Religion is one example.
• Example in Iowa with Families. Extend that same
  feeling to all.