Managing a diverse workforce - Essay Example

Understandably, it does not take long for an organization to be subjected to drastic pandemonium when the issues born due to a diverse workforce are not brought into account and analyzed by the management. This essay is basically based on evaluating what evidence literature has to present on the issue of managing a diverse workforce and how correct management holds the potential to influence an organization. The managers in an attempt to save their business from falling prey to mismanaged workforce issues should invest more time in applying the proper diversity and inclusion management techniques as research claims that it not only enhances the company’s market share, but also creates “a satisfied diverse customer base by relating to people from different backgrounds” (Andrade 2010).

It is an established reality that diversity can be readily used by any company as means of strategic advantage in many ways. When managers make efforts to respect diversity by hiring employees from varying backgrounds, the society gets the message that the organization does not discriminate against any community and a respect is born for that organization which helps both in terms of financial progress and customer loyalty. Research stresses that in comparison to other countries, the US has a great deal of cultural diversity and it is claimed that the workplace should be taken seriously by managers as it is that place where “culturally diverse, first generation employees attempt to immerse and make the transition into the American culture” (Botbol 2012).

Cultural diversity in America has influenced workplace atmosphere both for better and worse. While some positive effects of cultural diversity include but are not limited to variety of cultural, social, and religious perspectives, and the resulting competitive advantage for the organizations, the negative effects include nasty arguments, occasional racist conflicts, and increased load of training and education of the employees on the employers. Though it is common to see conflicts in any organization where there is a diverse workforce, but resolving such issues through the process of conciliation and ensuring multiple ways of communication together help to control the chaos before it gets out of control.

In this way, the people involved in a conflict get a chance to communicate different intricate and often hideous issues encountered by them to their managers. When both parties, the troubled workforce and impartial management, sit down to talk the matter through and inviting each other to propose creative solutions, any complicated condition is resolved most of the times in a facilitated manner. Whenever people from diverse backgrounds get together under different conditions to work for a same company, there is high chance of a cultural shock and in order to save a workplace from being adversely affected as a result of it, the managers should play an active role in helping their employees overcome their biases and understand each other’s cultural beliefs.

Culture shock is almost inevitable when people used to one way of living are exposed to a different culture at a workplace.