HRM20016

Dynamics of
Diversity in
Organisations
Week 1
Dr. Diana Rajendran – Unit
convener and Lecturer
Acknowledgement
of Country

On behalf of those present I acknowledge the Wurundjeri

people of the Kulin Nation who are the traditional custodians
of the land on which we now meet. I pay my respect to their
Elders: past, present and emerging.

I also pay my respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander people of Australia and hope that the path towards
reconciliation continues to be shared and embraced.
Today….
• Getting to know each other
• Mutual expectations
• Unit Materials - Brief
• Clarifications/concerns
• Any other - Did you listen to the upload voice over material for week 1?

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My approach to teaching…

• I am very Practical (knowledge as the core foundation of learning and

theory to support real-world problem solving)
• I encourage active participation through discussion
• I like to manage time and resources efficiently
• E-mail me when needed using your Swinburne student email id to my
Swinburne email : drajendran@swin.edu.au
• We all should have some fun in this learning journey by being
respectful, inclusive and considerate !

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 Introducing yourself…
o Your history – cultural and personal
o Religion
o Ethnicity
o Nationality
highlighting your uniqueness as an individual, o Class
o Personality
but also indicating the ‘collectives’ that you see
o Personal experiences
o Gender
yourself belonging to.
o Relationship to others
o Temperament
o Any other way of representing your uniqueness?

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Discuss
 What is an ‘Australian’?
 How would you define the term ‘Australian’?
 What is unique to Australia?
 What is Australian culture?
 How is Australian culture different to your culture?

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Are you a left hander or a right hander???
• What it is like to be left-handed versus right-handed?
• Who is the outsider?
• Who is the insider?
• What are the common patterns of experiences that underlie the
insider versus outsider positions?
• Has it changed over time?

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 Week 1 –Topic: Introduction and Origins of Diversity Management

• Definitions of Diversity, Diversity Management

• Dimensions of Diversity
• Business case for Diversity
• Diversity and inclusion in Australia – Real case examples

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 Reflections

o What does Diversity mean to me? What are your views about diversity?
o What are my perspectives on Diversity?
o How do I see and interpret the world around me?
o How do my beliefs about differences in others, affect my workplace or other
workplaces I know of?
o Are there any boundaries for Diversity?

o Video
Image source:
https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=
article&articleid=8888

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Resources
• ORG – Canvas support for
students
• Accessibility
• Studiosity (HE Students)
• SUT Health Services

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