Cultural Diversity: Its Effects and Overcoming its Challenges

2. Cultural Diversity
 It is the variety of differences between people in an
organization
 It is the appreciation of the differences in individuals.
 These differences encompass:
 Race ○ Language
 Gender ○ Religion
 Ethnic Group ○ Social Status
 Age ○ Sexual Orientation
 Personality
 Education

3. Cultural Diversity
 It also refers to how people perceive other people.
 According to a study by Dr. Richard T. Alpert, Ph.D.
 Cultural Diversity will increase significantly in the
coming years. Organizations MUST recognize the
need for immediate action and be ready and willing to
spend resources on managing diversity in the
workplace NOW.

4. Cultural Diversity
 It's important to understand how these
dimensions affect performance, motivation,
success, and interactions with others.
 Institutional structures and practices that have
presented barriers to some dimensions of
diversity should be examined, challenged, and
removed.

5. Cultural Diversity
 Managing Diversity
 According to Taylor Cox, “It is the planning and
implementing organizational systems and practices to
manage people so that the potential advantages of
diversity are maximized while its potential
disadvantages are minimized.” (Cox, 2009)

6. Cultural Diversity
 Managing Diversity
 The Goal of Managing Diversity is to gain
CULTURAL COMPETENCE.
1. Communication
2. Team Building
3. Time
4. Calendars

7. Cultural Diversity
 Benefits of Managing Diversity
 Increased Adaptability
 Broader Service Range
 Gain a Variety of Viewpoints
 More Effective Execution

8. Cultural Diversity
 Challenges to Managing Cultural Diversity
 Communication
 Resistance to Change
 Implementation
 Having a Successful Diversity Management

9. Cultural Diversity
 Steps in Managing Diversity
 Assessment of Diversity in the Workplace
 Develop a Diversity Workplace Plan
 Implementation of the Diversity in the Workplace
 Ward Off Change Resistance
 Foster an Attitude of Openness to Change
 Promote Diversity in Leadership Positions
 Utilize Diversity Training
 Create an Employee Satisfaction Survey (Employee
Training Feedback)