Case Questions
Is workplace diversity an advantage or a disadvantage?
The process of globalization influences every aspect of human life, and the workplace is not an exception. Nowadays, people work in a global and international team for the achievement of a common goal. Every organization aims to involve people from different countries in the working process to improve creativity and seek changes because changes are a driving force of innovations and success. Diversity in the workplace can be seen as an advantage for the following reasons:
- Diversity issues are beneficial for combatting such problems as inequality and discrimination;
- Differences increase efficiency and productivity;
- Reduction of the lawsuits;
- Improve creativity, marketing opportunities, business image, and flexibility.
Disadvantage:
- Reorganization of the working process (extended working hours, reduction of the staff);
- Problems of discrimination, differences in culture, and religion may arise (Green, Lopez, Wysocki, and Kepner 1).
The modern world is transforming, uniting people in one international community. Managers should implement appropriate techniques and approaches to eliminate the disadvantages of workplace diversity because it offers more benefits than losses.
As society started to change in the workplace if you are the manager, will you encourage/discourage LGT in the workplace?
The workplace is the reflection of the processes and changes in the world. A multicultural and diverse team is the result of globalization. The modern world is facing changes that foster transformation in every segment of human activity. If I were a manager, I would highlight that the private life of the employees is not the topic for the discussion in the workplace. Every person has the right to make choices. Tolerance and respect should become the fundamental values that are promoted in every organization. The person should be valued for professional skills and knowledge, however, not for the cultural, religious, or sexual aspects.
Given the facts of the case, what could be an ideal leadership style in managing diversity in the workplace?
Working in a diverse team requires certain knowledge and skills to build a team that will only benefit from multiculturalism. First and foremost, managers should realize the meaning of discrimination and inequality and understand the possible implications of it (Green, Lopez, Wysocki, and Kepner 2). Moreover, managers need to get better involved in personal prejudices related to culture or religion. The thing to remember is that every individual is a unique personality. Differences can be found not between the groups but even among the members of one cultural community.
The managers should be guided by tolerance, flexibility, and respect. These components are vital for taking into consideration. There is no secret of success that can be implemented into the working process of every company (Green, Lopez, Wysocki, and Kepner 2). The approaches and methods used by managers should correspond to the needs and objectives of the company. Training and meeting can be used as a tool for changing the behavior of the employees.
It is significantly important to involve every member of a team in the working process. Changes should be encouraged, as it is a driving force for success. Managers should contribute to the establishment of the dialogue between the employees and promote meetings and gatherings (Green, Lopez, Wysocki, and Kepner 2). A modern and progressive world demands managers to combine several leadership styles to improve and increase efficiency and productivity. The combination of democratic and coaching leadership styles is a perfect option for a multicultural and diverse team. However, as it was stated above, every organization and team has own peculiarities, and thus, there is no single recipe for success.
Works Cited
Green, Kelli, Mayra Lopez, Allen Wysocki, and Karl Kepner. “Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools.” University of Florida (2008): 1-3. Web.