Diversity Management

The need for individuals from various parts of the world has increased globally worldwide. Diversity is the variation in the important human characteristics that distinguish people from one another, such as, age, ethnicity, gender, mental or physical abilities, race, sexual orientation, communication style, family status, and first language (Managing a Diverse Workforce PowerPoint slides). It encompasses the differences between people and acceptance in their perspectives, values, and beliefs. According to Lawrence & Weber (2014), the workplace in the United States is more diverse than it has ever been, reflecting the entry of women into the workplace, immigrants from other countries, the aging of the population, and shifting patterns of work

Diversity related challenges are present in many workplaces large or small. Moreover, diversity management is an on-going process that releases the various talents and capabilities, which a diverse population brings to an organization. Creating a healthy, inclusive environment, that is "safe for differences", enables people to embrace diversity and maximize the full potential of all in a cultural context. Consistent with Lawrence & Weber (2014), immigration has profoundly reshaped the workplace, ethnic and racial diversity is increasing, and more women with children are working. Approaching employees at an individual, interpersonal, and organizational level is beneficial to everyone (Nagar, 2012). An organization’s success and competitiveness depends upon its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. With that in mind, there are many benefits when organizations evaluate how they handle workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans. Lawrence & Weber (2014) conveys that successful diversity management includes communicating goals, measuring progress, and establishing mechanisms for assessing

Kahlib Fischer insists that organizational strength and flexibility can only be achieved by establishing a diverse workforce based on genuine care, mutual accountability, loving each other, and doing the right thing for the right reason (Fischer, 2011, Ethics, Integrity, Employee Relations and Public Relations). Furthermore, a diverse workforce also has its challenges, which includes, communication and language barriers, having employees from diverse background, who possess talents and experiences in various ideas to the fluctuating markets and customer demands. In addition, a diverse collection of skills and experiences allows a company to provide service to customers on a global basis. Employees with diverse languages and cultural understanding are comfortable communicating their various points of view and organizations can use that to meet business strategy needs and the needs of customers more effectively. As indicated by Alexander, Havercome, and Mujtaba (2015), diversity in the modern workplace is not just a reality, but it is also necessary for competitive advantage. As stated by Carl and Olokooba (2014) “absence of a good diversity management may lead to corporate failure.” In an effort to be successful in the market, organizations must address and overcome the challenges associated with managing a diverse workplace such as language barriers and resistance to