Managing Diversity of Workforce

A diverse workforce is a reflection of a changing world and market place. The world's increasing globalization requires more interaction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, backgrounds and they are now part of a worldwide economy. In this highly competitive market organizations need to become more diversified to remain competitive

Flagg (2002) stated that organizations need to learn how to manage diversity in the workplace to be successful in future as diverse work teams bring high value to the organization.

Figure 1- workforce diversity driving company performance, innovation,
and profitability-transcript by New Work & Digital Education (2018)

Diversity Defined

According to Esty(1995) diversity defined as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing and celebrating differences among people irrespective of their age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice and public assistance status.

Challenges of Diversity in the workplace

Diversity issues are now considered important and are expected to become even more important in the future due to increasing differences in organizations. (SHRM, 1995)

Some of the diversity issues at workplace are :-

* Respect 
The key component in achieving a favorably diversified workplace is establishing teamwork and mutual respect among staff members.

* Generation Gaps
In larger diversified corporations, staffs are often made up of workers who range in age from teenagers to senior citizens & generation gap could become an issue.  

* Communication
Even when no prejudice exits, a diversified workplace can bring about certain communication issues.

Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace

According to Kurek (2018) when an organization has a diverse workforce, they're getting more perspectives involved and it directs to more debates, better decision-making. Further it leads to have a better understanding about diverse group of customers.

Managing Diversity effectively through the use of technology

According to Chandler Macleod magazine (2016) there are 4 technological elements that can use to manage diversity effectively. 

* Automated hiring processes
By automating elements of the hiring process, like initial candidate screening, bias can be reduced or eliminated, making selection a fairer and more objective.

* Increased accessibility 
Some organisations have integrated specialist translation software for people who may not be especially strong in English

* Effective communication
With technological advancements, management teams can tailor their communication efforts to suit the needs of individual team members

* Global connectivity.
It allows organisations to develop high performing teams without necessarily needing them to be in the same office


References

Chandler Macleod Magazine (2016) How technology can help unleash diversity
Available at : https://www.chandlermacleod.com/blog

Esty, K. Griffin, R. and Schorr-Hirsh, M. (1995) Workplace diversity. A managers guide to solving problems and turning diversity into a competitive advantage.

Flagg, A. (2002) Managing diverse work groups successfully

Kurek, E. (2018) Workforce diversity driving company performance, innovation, and profitability - transcript

Society for Human Resource Management (1995) 
Available at : http://www.shrm.org