CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES OF
DIVERSTY IN ORGANIZATION DR. FARRUKH SEIR
• Diversity refers to human characteristics that makes people different.
• Diversity in workforce respect the employees unique attitude and promote sense of corporate identity.
WORK FORCE DIVERSTY
• PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT HAVING 1. DIFFERENT PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHLOGICAL MAKE UPS 2. DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTIS 3. DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS 4. DIFFERENT CAPACITIES 5. DIFFERENT BELIEFS,PERCEPTIONS 6. WEAKNESS AND STRNGTHS.
DIVERSITY Racial and ethnic group
Old and young workers
Gender
Education
Dual career families
Religion and culture
Disabilities
Immigrants
DIVERSITY IS AN ASSEST
• CREATIVITY/ innovation• COLLECTIVE WISDOM• BETTER DECISION MAKING• PROBLEM SOLVING• FEXIBILITY• Competitive advantage
• Cultural
• Organizational
• External Forces
• Important Ethical Issues
• Sexual harassment
• Discrimination in pay/ promotion
• Right of privacy
Changing Work
Force Demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, and education)
Legislation and Lawsuits
Increasing Diversity in
Today’s Organizations
Competitive Pressures
Rapidly Growing
Increase in International
Business
CHARACTERISTIC OF DIVERSITY
• Age
• Organizational Adjustment
• Gender
• Religion
• Glass Ceiling Effect
• Ethnicity
• Education
• Other
MANAGING DIVERSITY
• The effective management of diversity
is done by first developing a
multicultural organization. Then
individual and organizational levels
strategies and techniques must be
evolved
Managing diversity
• Set of activities and approaches involved in integrating diverse work force for competitive advantage of organization.
• Using diversity as strength
• Top management commitment to value diversity
challenges
• Environmental challenges
• Organizational challenges
• Individual challenges
Environmental challenges
• Rapid changes• Globalization• Technology• Work force diversity• Changing nature of work• Availability of skilled workers in growing
service industry• Changing labor markets• Family role
Organizational challenges
• Controlling cost• Improving quality• Information technology• Restructuring• Outsourcing• Team work• Mergers and acquisitions
Individual challenges
• Remaining functional, useful and productive
• Social responsibility
• Empowerment
• Exploring better prospects
• Job insecurity
Conflicting areas
• Individuals vs group formations• Resistance to change• Group cohesiveness• Interpersonal challenges• Segmented communication net work• Communication• Lower cohesiveness• Resentment• Mistrust/Tension• Stereotyping• Competition for opportunities• Glass ceiling effect
Organizational approaches
• Diversity training
• Support groups
• Organizational activities
• Mentoring programs
• Research
Diversity training
• Training designed to change employees attitude about diversity and develop skills needed to work with a diverse work force.
• Awareness of values, stereotyping influencing their behavior towards diverse groups.
• Cultural appreciation
• Isolation and intimidation of minority groups
Behavior based progrms
• Program focusing on changing the organizational policies and individual behaviors that inhibit employees personal growth and productivity.
• Cultural immersions. understanding culture values of other
groups
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTICULTURAL ORGANIZATION • Reflects the contribution and interests of diverse - cultural & social groups in its mission, operations, products or services
• Acts on a commitment to eradicate social oppression in all forms with in organizations
• Includes the members of diverse cultural and social groups as full participants, especially in decisions that shape the organization
INDIVIDUAL APPROACH TO MANAGE DIVERSITY
• Learning
• Empathy
ORGANIZATIONAL APPROAHES
• Securing top management support• Organizational assessment• Developing employees• Alternate work schedule
• Flex Time
• Compressed Work Week• Job Sharing
Flexible Starting Time
Core period Flexible and ending time
7AM 10AM 3PM
HAND WIDTH
Diversity programs
• Top management commitment, resources, interventions, publicity, advocacy.
• Structured programs.• Evaluation of programs.• Seen as cultural change, not as
one shot program