Diversity in the workplace entails acknowledging, accepting and valuing the differences that exist among people in an organization in terms of the age, race, gender ethnicity, religious beliefs and physical abilities. According to Fitzsimmons (2013), it is imperative for the managers to ensure that they develop strategies that ensure that they adequately manage the multicultural differences between their employees so as to benefit from diverse talents and experiences from the workers in promoting the competitiveness of the organization.
Many organizations have come up with structures that ensure that women have an equal chance to access job opportunities through the introduction of the affirmative action rule. The strategy is essential in ensuring that women are empowered and also have a chance of occupying the managerial positions.
Gardenswartz and Rowe (2010) note that, the blending of the older workforce and young employees are a critical strategy for enhancing the continuity of the organization. Besides, the approach ensures that the organization maintains its competitiveness by benefiting from the vast experience of the older workers while at the same time mentoring young employees to take up managerial position if the experienced employees leave the organization.
A study by Fitzsimmons (2013), reiterates that an organization can benefit from highly skilled employees from overseas thus making it enhance its competitive advantage over its competitors. Also, an organization that has employees from device backgrounds makes the staff acknowledge and appreciate the cultures and beliefs of various individuals thus enhancing unity in diversity a fact that can foster cooperation among the members of the staff to work collectively towards achieving the organization's goals.
Managing diversity in an organization is more that simply acknowledging individual differences that exist among employees. The strategy entails appreciation of the differences, promotion of the initiatives that fosters inclusiveness and the establishment of legislations that combats discrimination in the organization so as to enhance cooperation among the employees for the benefit of the organization.,
References
Fitzsimmons, S. R. (2013). Multicultural Employees: A Framework for Understanding How They Contribute to Organizations. Academy of Management Review, 38(4), 525-549. doi:10.5465/amr.2011.0234
Gardenswartz, L., & Rowe, A. (2010). Managing diversity: A complete desk reference & planning guide. Alexandria, VA: Society for Human Resource Management.
