Chapter 4: Answers
Diversity in the Workplace
Comprehension Questions
- There are several benefits of diversity within the workplace listed in the article. Name 3 of these benefits. Answer: Any three of the following – higher quality decisions; better understanding and service of customers; more satisfied workforce; good market reputation; lower litigation expenses.
- What is the overall result of all these benefits of diversity within the workplace? Answer: higher company performance.
- What are two of the challenges of diversity in the workplace? Answer: 1. Similarity-attraction phenomenon; 2. Stereotypes. Both can result in unfair treatment of employees and unfair hiring practices.
- There are several suggestions given for managing cultural diversity in the workplace. What four suggestions are provided? Answer: 1. Build a culture of respect for diversity; 2. Make managers accountable for diversity; 3. Diversity training programs; 4. Review recruitment practices.
- For one of the suggestions listed above, explain why this approach would be beneficial to the company. Answer: 1. This enables employees with vastly different demographics and backgrounds to feel a sense of belonging; 2. When managers are evaluated and rewarded based on how effective they are in diversity management, they are more likely to show commitment to diversity that in turn affects the diversity climate in the rest of the organization. 3. Programs with a higher perceived success rate were those that occurred in companies where top management believed in the importance of diversity, where there were explicit rewards for increasing diversity in the company, and where managers were required to attend the diversity training programs; 4. By building relationships with Indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups, organizations may attract a more diverse group of candidates to choose from.
