Mgt 308 - Understanding and Managing Diversity

Understanding and Managing Diversity

By

Bobby Favors

Mgt 308

University of Phoenix

Professor Valerie Vann

August 15, 2011

As we take a look at diversity in the work place, it is of importance that we have a clear understanding of the meaning of work place diversity according to Esty "Diversity is generally defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and public assistance status (Esty, et al., 1995)".

Diversity in the Workplace

Diversity in the workplace is an array of differences that people from different facets of life bring to the organization. Diversity not only involves how people perceive themselves, but also how they perceive others.. In the business that I am in I have seen the playing field face change so much in the past 10 years. There is no way we in America continue to be a global leader if we do not continue to stay on top of the vast diversity issues that we are facing today. With America being such an open country when it comes to allowing others to enter for work or school. That is one of the main reasons that we have such diversity in our work force today. When many complete their higher level school they stay here and work, sometimes it becomes very hard for us Americans to accept them, because we tend to stereotype, or put them in certain categories.

Workplace changes

Over the past 30 years the business world has changed. The Internet, fax machine, e-mail and cell phones are products that have been invented. Many of those changes is because of an increase in the workforce because of changes in the "demographics, the landscape of our labor market and dynamics of the relationships at the workplace are also changing (Findarticles, 2010)." Many companies are becoming more aware of their multicultural employee base. Some of the Companies are dedicating a team solely there to promote, created and manage diversity and diversity issues that arise within the company." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Euro-American men (who once dominated the workplace) account for about 45% all workers. Euro- American women and African American women make up 47%of the workplace." In 1995, 76 % of women between the ages of 25 and 54 worked outside the home, up from 50 % in 1970 (Gender Role, 2010)".

Workforce