CHAPTER 2: DIVERSITY IN ORGANIZATION

The benefits of diversity in the workplace

relevance of intellectual and physical abilities to OB.

Intellectual Abilities

abilities needed to perform mental activities—thinking,
reasoning, and problem solving

Dimensions of Intellectual Ability

1) Number aptitude

2) Perceptual speed

3) Inductive reasoning

Physical Abilities

Basic Physical Abilities

Strength Factors

Flexibility Factors

Other Factors

1) Dynamic Strength - Ability to exert muscular force repeatedly or continuously over time.

2) Trunk Strength - Ability to exert muscular strength using the trunk (particularly abdominal) muscles.

1) Extent flexibility - Ability to move the trunk and back muscles as far as possible

2) Dynamic flexibility - Ability to make rapid, repeated flexing movements.

1) Body coordination - Ability to coordinate the simultaneous actions of different parts of the body.

2) Balance - Ability to maintain equilibrium despite forces pulling off balance

Ability to do speedy and accurate arithmetic

Job eg: Computing the sales tax on a set of items

Ability to identity visual similarities and differences quickly and accurately.

Job eg: Fire investigator - Identifying clues to support a charge of arson.

Ability to identify a logical sequence in a problem and then solve the problem

Implementing Diversity Management Strategies

To manage a diverse workplace, organizations need to ensure that they effectively communicate with employees.

how organizations manage diversity effectively.

1) Create inclusive policies and practices

need to ensure your organization’s overall practices and policies are inclusive of everyone and do not favor or discriminate a certain set of employees.

need to consider the differential impact policies and practices will have on the diverse group of workers before they’re enforced

2) Provide diversity training

Providing diversity training to your employees, especially those in leadership positions, helps people understand and respect the differences in religion, race, ethnicity, cultural values, gender and thinking styles.

3) Encourage interaction.

Encourage your employees to collaborate with colleagues who are “different” from them.One way of implementing this is by creating work groups that reflect the diversity that exists in the workplace.

The benefits of diversity in the workplace

1) New perspectives - When you hire people from diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures, you’re bringing a fresh array of perspectives to the table.

2) Better employee performance - When you create a work environment where employees see a representation of a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, they’re more likely to feel comfortable being themselves.