Diversity in Organizations

By –
Aditya Sharma (2019 MBA - 02)
Ishan Kakkar (2019 MBA - 13)

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Diversity : Definition
In a workplace, “Diversity” means employing people who may be different from each other
and who do not all come from the same background. Some of the key diversity examples are:

National Origin Physical Appearance Religion

Education Age Gender

Sexual Orientation
and many more ……

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Types of Diversity : Surface Level

Gender Surface Level Diversity

Appearance Age
Difference in easily perceived
Surface characteristics.
Level
Culture Race It can lead employees to perceive
one another through stereotype
Religion
& assumption.

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Types of Diversity : Deep Level

Deep Level Diversity Values

Beliefs Personality
Are individual differences that can
only be learned through inter-action Deep
with others. Level
Work
Ability
More important for determining Preferences

similarity as people get to know -one

Attitude
another.

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Discrimination (Part 1)
Discrimination means that we allow our behaviour to be influenced by stereotypes about
groups of peoples.
Unfair discrimination is very harmful for the organization & its employees and often leads to reduced
productivity, negative conflicts & increased turnover. Some common types of discriminatory practices are as
follows:

Discriminatory Sexual
Intimidation
Policies Harassment

Mockery & Incivility

Exclusion
Insults

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Discrimination (Part 2)
Discriminatory Policies • Denial of equal opportunities or unequal rewards for performance.

• Unwanted sexual advances or physical conduct that leads to an

Sexual Harassment offensive environment.

Intimidation • Threats or Bullying.

Mockery & Insults • Jokes or Negative Stereotypes.

Exclusion • Left out of events, decisions opportunities etc.

• Disrespectful treatment, aggressive behaviour, interrupting or

Incivility ignoring.

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Diversity Management
Diversity management is planning & & implementing organizational systems & practices to
manage people so that the potential disadvantages of diversity are minimized.

Golden Rule
” Treat others as you want to be treated.”

Some Diversity Management Techniques

1. Respect for Individual & Cultural Differences.

2. Implementing flexibility like a management tool, this includes flexible work
arrangements (Part time), maternity leaves, dependent care services (day care).
3. Measuring performance on value added & not on hours worked.
4. Meet business objectives by helping employees meet personal needs.

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

 Diversity Mgmt. : An HP Story
60s to 70s - Equal Employment Opportunities
80s - Affirmative Action
Establishing a
workplace free of 90s – Workforce Diversity
discrimination Initiating proactive
behaviours & 21st Century – Global
actions in making Creating an Diversity
EEO a reality for inclusive work
environment that Putting differences
everyone to work in the
values all
employees marketplace,
workplace &
community.
HP’s diversity management policies are called open corporate policies. Their management style is called “management by walking
around”. The motive at HP is that “everyone in the organization wants to do a good job”. This inclusive policy has been credited by HP
CEOs overtime for making HP one of the largest Computer manufacturers in the world. After the passing away of Packard & Hewlett in
1996 & 2001 respectively they are not just remembered by their contribution to HPs business but for their management style which
transformed the ways corporations function. This has overtime been called the “HP Way”.
Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year
Diversity : Some Other Examples

Diversity @ Infosys Diversity @ Ranbaxy

1. First Company in India to establish a dedicated 1. Ranbaxy is an equal opportunities employer &
office for diversity & inclusivity. this gets reflected in its rich & diverse workforce.

2. Workforce at Infosys comprises of 89 2. Their motto is, “This diversity provides us the
nationalities working in 32 countries. strength to reach out to the world & touch the
lives of millions of people in different parts of the
3. Women representation is around 34.7% globe.”

4. Their motto is, “Talent diversity is the key to 3. Ranbaxy employs around 14000 people.
propel our business growth engines & sustain
momentum.” 4. Through these 51 nationalities are represented
with approximately 26% foreign nationals.

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Diversity Management Strategies
How can we implement diversity management strategies into the Organization ?

Creating Awareness & Sensitivity in

Employee Engagement & Retention
the minds

Celebrating an Event or Milestone Attract employee from outside our usual

talent banks

Consider individual needs when Timely talking to the employee privately

enforcing company policies

Knowing the preferences of the Evaluating performance objectively

employee

Creating an inclusive environment Taking out staff to Lunch or Party

Respect affirmative action & EEOs Value fairness & objectivity in selecting
(Equal Employment Opportunities) employees

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Ability
” Defined as an individual’s capacity to perform the various tasks in a job.”

Intellectual Physical
Abilities Abilities

These are the abilities needed to perform mental

The capacity to do tasks demanding:
abilities.
• Stamina
General Mental Ability (GMA) is a measure of overall
• Dexterity
intelligence.
• Strength
There is no correlation between intelligence & job
• Similar Characteristics
satisfaction.

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Dimensions of Intellectual Ability

Verbal
Number Aptitude Perceptual Speed Inductive Reasoning
Comprehension

Deductive Memory
Spatial Visualization
Reasoning

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Dimensions of Physical Ability

9 Basic Physical Abilities

Strength Factors Flexibility Factors Other Factors

Dynamic Strength Extent Flexibility Body Coordination

Trunk Strength Dynamic Flexibility Balance
Static Strength Stamina
Explosive Strength

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Effective Diversity Programs
What Does An Effective Diversity Program Look Like ?

Every organization has its own

culture, and an effective program
should meet your specific needs

Information- Frequent
based reassessment

Diversity
Mentoring
managers
Diversity and
Targeted
inclusion
recruiting
training

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year

Thank You

Organization Behaviour – MBA 1st Year