Challenging of Managing in a Modern World: Diversity

Question 1

What is diversity?

Answer 1

Differences amongst individuals such as age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, pregnancy, parental/family status.

Question 2

What are the characteristics of a multicultural organisations?

Answer 2

Pluralism (majority and minority cultures equal)
Structural integration (minorities well represented in all levels)
Informal network integration (monitoring and support groups to assist career development for minorities)
Absence of prejudice and discrimination
Minimal intergroup conflict

Question 3

How does diversity related to POLC?

Answer 3

Planning - recruitment goals, individual workloads
Organising - allocating resources across gender, age, work group
Leading - percentage of minority group representatives in leadership
Controlling - measuring employee performance subject to opportunity and personal circumstance

Question 4

What is social identity theory?

Answer 4

Individuals validate social identity by favouring ‘in-groups’ as they are easier to communicate with and trust

Question 5

What are the three main types of social dilemmas in the workforce?

Answer 5

Individual participation (success of business depends on how employees resist/embrace diversity) 
Managerial participation (managers hire seeking those they perceive to be similar) 
Organisational participation (perceptions affect turnover and creates barriers between firms and highly talented people)

Question 6

What are the solutions to diversity?

Answer 6

Smaller work groups, encouraging communication, ‘effective’ not forced diversity and the mission statement

Question 7

What is the Glass ceiling?

Answer 7

The limited advancement of women and other minority groups to senior management

Question 8

What are the ethical considerations of diversity?

Answer 8

Job design, workload, flexibility, inclusive work environment and equal opportunities