Summarize the influences of diversity within a workplace.
What will be an ideal response?
Diversity refers to the presence of differing cultures, languages, ethnicities, races, affinity orientations, genders, religious sects, abilities, social classes, ages, and national origins of the individuals in a firm. Diversity has brought benefits to the workplace, but diversity efforts have also created new conflicts. Keeping in mind the definition of diversity, it is important to realize that when a firm brings together individuals with these (or other) differences-often exposing these individuals to such differences for the first time-areas of tension and anxiety may emerge. In addition, the organization is likely to ask its employees to work together toward common goals, on teams, in supervisory or subordinate roles, and in power relationships, all requests that might lead to conflicts or tension even without additional stressors such as cultural challenges.
Diversity can potentially increase several areas of values tension. Where differences are new or strong and where negative stereotypes previously ruled interaction between particular groups, sensitivity to the potential for conflict is necessary. Another concern involves integrating diverse viewpoints with a preexisting corporate culture. It is not discriminatory to refuse to hire someone about whom you simply have a "bad feeling," unless that bad feeling is based on their difference in race or gender. On the other hand, it is vital to be wary of prejudgments based solely on differences in interpretations of culturally based standards.
The cost of ignoring diversity is high, not only in terms of losses of productivity, creativity, and other performance-based measures, but also in terms of legal liability.
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