Managing Diversity

In order to be successful, an organization needs to strategically understand and manage the challenges related to a diverse workforce. "If not managed properly, diversity can, hinder productivity, create conflicts, lead to communication gaps, result in unfair hiring/promotional preferences."[1]

It is crucial for an organization to maintain the right balance between diversity and fairness. An initiative by an employer to be 'inclusive' to one group of employees might be viewed as biased by another group of employees. An example of this scenario is the controversy around relaxed policies based upon an employee's disability. A manager who would be willing to accommodate a disabled employee might come across as biased to other employees who might not understand the context. Another example are the religious breaks (for prayers) which again could create conflict between employees with different religious backgrounds. Company's stand on diversity related practices need to be effectively communicated through policies, awareness and open discussion. Hence, it is very important to understand both the advantages and the challenges associated with a diverse workforce and to follow the required steps so as to strategically manage the impact.

[1] Chang, R.Y. (1996). Capitalizing on workplace diversity: a practical guide to organizational success through diversity. Irvine, Calif.: R. Chang Associates.