Bridging the Diversity Gap ~ odairisme

Question:

Identify potential benefits to companies that develop diversity in the workplace.

Improved employee retention, low turnover, and improved performance
Make use of employees' creativity and tap into a broad range of talents
Increased ability on the part of employees to deal with conflict productively
Improved company image

Question

Identify statements about diversity in the workplace.

To foster workplace diversity, companies should create a culture that values everyone's contributions, not just the contributions of a few people or groups
Workplace diversity can provide business advantages over peers who don't foster diversity
Workplace diversity is about encouraging and helping people from different backgrounds to work together effectively

Question

In what ways can stereotypes and prejudice negatively affect employees at work?

Fault lines divide groups of people
Lack of skills hinder an employee's progress
Difficult to balance career and family life
Lack of access to resources

Question

Companies sometimes find that resistance to diversity remains, even after some barriers are worked through.

Why might some organizations encounter resistance to developing diversity?

Some employees feel that there's no need to change because their companies are successful just the way they are
Some employees have a difficult time understanding the financial benefits of diversity

Question

Match the characteristics of workplace diversity with the corresponding approaches.

Don't rock the boat - Encourage employees to suppress their differences
Help us achieve our goals - Encourage employees to understand, accept, and value differences
Welcome aboard - Include employees from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, races, and genders
Fit in - Assure employees that differences are meaningless

Question

As part of its diversity initiative, your company hires people from different cultures, who tend to have different expectations.

How could this hinder diversity?

Cultural expectations can make it difficult for group members to communicate effectively and understand each other
When expectations among group members differ, it can have a negative impact on the group's cohesion

Question

What are some reasons why an organization may encounter resistance to developing diversity?

Some employees may not understand how diversity can offer measurable financial gain
Some employees may believe their company's culture should stay the same, even if the current structure might not be working

Question

Which statements describe diversity in the workplace?

Workplace diversity can provide business advantages
A huge part of workplace diversity is avoiding monoculture and welcoming the different perspectives diversity provides
Workplace diversity includes invisible attributes such as your generation, sexual orientation, and marital status

Question

Your company is made up of many people from different cultures, who tend to have different expectations.

How could this hinder diversity?

It can lead to different expectations about management styles, work rules, and appropriate behavior, making it hard for group members to understand each other
Different expectations among group members can have a negative impact on the group's cohesion

Question

Which are potential benefits for companies that develop diversity in the workplace?

Companies can improve their image and be viewed as desirable places to work
broader range of talents means fresh perspectives that can help a company succeed
They enjoy higher retention rates since employees are more appreciative of individual differences and similarities
Employees may be able to handle conflict better than those in groups where diversity isn't evident

Question

What are some of the ways prejudice and stereotypes can cause barriers for employees?