2. Learning Outcomes
Explain the meaning and benefits of
employee diversity
Develop an awareness of the unique
perspectives, problems, and issues of diverse
employee groups
Describe the challenges firms may face in the
management of diversity
Describe various approaches that managers
may use to promote employee diversity
3. What is diversity?
Diversity is all of the ways in which people
are different
Companies are embracing a more
inclusive definition of diversity
– Spectrum of differences: how employees
approach work, interact, approach work,
derive satisfaction and define who they are…
4. Forms of diversity
Cultural diversity
Age diversity
Religious diversity
Racial diversity
Disability/ability diversity
Pay level/lifestyle diversity
Diversity in sexual orientation
Nationality
5. Demographic distribution of SA
labour force
Figure 1.4. Demographic distribution in occupational levels of South African labour force.
Adapted from “Commission of Employment Equity,” by Stats SA, 2011. Copyright 2011 by
Republic of South Africa.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Black/African
Coloured
Indian/Asian
White
7. Advantages of embracing
diversity
International competition – firms with
employee diversity are likely to display
cultural sensitivity, understanding and
awareness that will help them succeed in
the global arena e.g.. the Bank of America
conducts business in 37 countries and the
Californian customer call centre speaks 13
languages
8. Advantages of embracing
diversity
Multiplicity of points of view
People from different backgrounds bring a
variety of experiences, skills, abilities and
information
Diversity fuels innovation and creativity
9. Advantages of embracing
diversity
Team performance
A diverse team is characterised by
divergent thinking which minimises
groupthink
Diverse group members may learn from,
emulate and internalise the different
strengths of other team members
10. Advantages of embracing
diversity
Better use of employee talent
Increased understanding of the
marketplace
Enhanced breadth of understanding in
leadership positions
Increased quality of team problem solving
Reduced costs associated with high
turnover, absenteeism, and lawsuits
11. Challenges of diversity
Pressure towards homogenisation
Monoculture – the homogenous organisational culture
that results from turnover of dissimilar employees
Ethnocentrism – a belief that may become prevalent
among majority group employees that their way of doing
things, their values, and their norms are inherently
superior to those of other groups and cultures
Glass ceiling - the intangible barrier that prevents
women and minority groups from rising to upper levels in
business
Segmented communication – flows of information within
the firm that are far greater within groups than between
groups
12. Challenges of diversity
Lower cohesion
It may lead to a lack of commonality of
organisational values and goals
Members must share some common values
and norms to promote coherent actions on
organisational goals
The need for heterogeneity to promote
problem-solving and innovation must be
balanced with the need for organisational
coherence and unity of action to provide
competitive advantage
13. Challenges of diversity
Interpersonal conflict and tension
As organisations become diverse,
mistrust, lack of understanding and lack of
mutual respect may lead to decreasing
cooperation
It may lead to stress and interpersonal
friction making it difficult to reach
agreement on issues
14. Challenges of diversity
Confusing employee diversity with affirmative
action
Affirmative action is a government-mandated
program to provide opportunities to women
and minorities
Members of the groups not covered by the
programs have complained about reverse
discrimination
Affirmative action may lead to lowered self-
esteem among the beneficiaries
15. Challenges of diversity
Diversity presents challenges for HR
Firstly, white males may view a program as a
threat to their own opportunities for advancement
Secondly, the perception of special treatment may
undermine formal procedures, policies, and
enforcement mechanisms of the diversity program
Thirdly, women and minorities in positions of
authority may not receive as much respect as
white/black men
Finally, the organisation may not reap the benefits
of employee diversity
16. Factors Shaping Personal Bias
Stereotypes are often based on folklore, media
portrayals, and other unreliable sources of information
Stereotypes contain negative connotations
Stereotypes assume that all members of a group have
the same characteristics
21. Diversity initiatives at WITS
DIVERSITY MANAGER (Department: TRANSFORMATION AND
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY OFFICE)
The main purpose of this job is to:
Manage and coordinate the University’s strategy and
obligations in relation to matters of diversity.
Manage, coordinate and train students and staff on the
objectives and obligations that they have toward the
University’s Social Justice Policies and Procedures
Manage discrimination complaints and ensure that these are
timeously attended to and that staff and students impacted by
discrimination are aware of their rights and responsibilities
with regard to the resolution of discrimination complaints.
Oversee appropriate dispute resolution measures throughout
the University
22. Diversity initiatives at WITS
Wits Centre for Diversity Studies - is
based in the Faculty of Humanities at the
University of the Witwatersrand.
Through interdisciplinary postgraduate
education, courses for the public, and
research, WiCDS aims to build capacity to
meet the challenges of diverse societies,
especially in post-apartheid South Africa.
23. Antecedents for embracing
diversity
Diversity complexity cognition
Diversity complexity perceptions assess the degree to which
members of an organisation hold simple or complex views on
workplace diversity. In other words it refers to the degree to
which an individual’s view of diversity is differentiated across
aspects of diversity (Hostager & De Meuse, 2002)
Perceptual breadth refers to the degree to which an
individual’s view of diversity is differentiated across the 5
categories of diversity reaction identified by De Meuse and
Hostager (2001). Their perceptions are more complex than
those who include one or two of the category
24. Diversity complexity cognition
Perceptual depth – the degree to which an individual’s
diversity perceptions are differentiated to include a balanced
view of positive and negative aspects in each of the five
categories
Diversity complexity cognition - Individuals who display a high
level of diversity complexity cognition are more likely to
recognise emotions in others (Plaut, 2002)
Individuals who display a high level of diversity complexity
cognition tend to be more moderate in their attitudes have (a)
a heightened tolerance for ambiguity (Streufert, Streufert,
& Castore, 1968); (b) an enhanced ability to adopt the
perspective of others (Triandis, 1977); (c) an improved
ability to resolve conflicts (Eiseman, 1978); and (d) greater
levels of gregariousness, warmth, and nurturance during
social interactions (Coren & Suedfeld, 1995).
26. Antecedents for embracing diversity
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence - emotional intelligence is
positively related to diversity complexity cognition
(Kamps & Engelbrecht, 2011)
Employees with high levels of EI accordingly maintain
a more positive attitude towards their diverse co-
workers and may experience less interpersonal
conflict than those who have lower levels of EI
(Murphy & Janeke, 2009; Suliman & Al-Shaikh, 2007).
Emotional intelligence is positively related to valuing
individual differences
27. Antecedents for embracing diversity
Higher education
A management role
Experience abroad lead to a higher
positive towards diversity
http://dergiler.ankara.edu.tr/dergiler/42/1347/15604.pdfe