Diversity Training Plan

Diversity Training Plan

Cearsti Skillings

HRM/326

March 14, 2016

Patricia Morgan

Diversity Training Plan

In the world today it is absolutely essential for companies to not only promote diversity within their organizations, but to actively implement and reiterate the importance of  it as well by creating diversity and inclusion plans to be taught and used in the company’s regular training exercises. It is the duty of the HR manager of any company to recognize if his or her organization is in need of additional training that will help the employees welcome diversity and promote the inclusion of others on their own and not just when the company or organization encourages it. The HR manager should carefully create a detailed plan that will that will help them accomplish this goal, which is to have a diverse workforce that is comfortable with his or working conditions and feels included in all company activities.

A diversity and inclusion training program should contain more than one external learning condition, such as written material, e-learning modules, role playing exercises, and/or a presentation with real life examples of positive outcomes that show the benefits of diversity. There is also the option of showcasing different cultures in a manner that promotes the positive aspects of a diverse working population. When people are able to see the good things that can come from something, they are more likely to accept it and use it in their own life experiences; this should be the HR managers’ goal of teaching diversity to his or her employees.

Some people learn by observing, which is the social learning theory. When a person can observe a behavior and see that it is reinforced or rewarded, they are more likely to repeat it (Blanchard, 2013). Role playing, e-learning modules and physically watching another person participating in these exercises are a few great examples of the social learning theory at work.  One of the most cost effective of the options is e-learning modules, which have a vast array of other benefits as well. If a company chooses to go this route, they are giving themselves the opportunity to create some well thought out content that can teach their employees exactly what they are aiming for. The company can show that they value their diverse workforce by creating learning videos that show examples of people from different cultures interacting comfortably and working together on projects. If the company can stress the importance of cultural competence to their employees, this will be the best way to promote diversity, and it will also show the good things that can come from it. Another great thing a company can do is embrace the minorities. If they can show that they care just as much about the minorities as they do the majority, they will show their employees by example just how important diversity is to them and the value it holds within the company.

The adult learning theory, or andragogy, explains that adults are most interested in learning things that have direct relevance in their lives (Blanchard, 2013). It also states that adult learning is more problem-centered rather than content-oriented. If a company is focused on this theory, they could create a lesson plan that showcases the need for diversity around the world and stresses exactly how important it is to the company. If an individual that learns this way recognizes that the apparent lack of diversity is an issue, they are more likely to want to participate in solving the problem. If this theory was used to create a role playing exercise, it could benefit the company to come up with a script that goes from negative to positive. This way they can see that the problem can be fixed rather easily and it can create a desire for the employee to want to incorporate diversity and inclusion into their own lives.