Diversity at Work Place - Essay Example

Diversity at Work Place In this age of liberalization and globalization, the world seems to think on similar patterns. The diversity at work places, in an effort to provide an international look, makes it much clearer. The globalization regime knows no geographical boundaries and what matters is economic exchange and business ventures. Dickens (1994) spells out the effective management of diversity in order to provide equal opportunities to the workforce and strengthen core competencies of the organization. Diversity not only comes in the form of culture and values, but it also consists of several other visible and non-visible factors, which include personal characteristics such as sex, race, age, background, culture, disability, personality and work-style. Companies now realize that in order to create a productive environment such differences need to be harnessed in such a manner that everybody feels valued with their talents fully utilized for meeting the organizational goals. This study is an effort to look into such diversities in general. With the female gender rubbing shoulders with their male counterparts in almost all professions, the diversity on account of gender in particular is the one most talked about now a days. An effort would also be made in this study to analyze some cases in which women have been leading an organization. In order to manage an organization, there are a number of key stakeholders like customers, government, environment, human resources etc. Managing other operations and activities become far more convenient if a company is able to manage its human resources effectively. Having a pool of talented and motivated workforce certainly helps the matters. Terry & Franklin (1994) defines management as 'a distinct process consisting of activities of planning, organizing, actuating and controlling performed to determine and accomplish stated objectives with the use of human beings and other resources'. The older schools of thought considered the male workforce fit enough for all types of functions involving varying degrees of stress and strain, the female counterparts was considered delicate to the extent that they were not considered fit enough for such jobs. But times are changing and there are examples which prove beyond doubt that women employees are equally competent to handle any kind of situation. The society too has in general accepted this fact, which becomes all the more clear when we find out that there a number of companies where women have been assigned or designated on top posts. Indra Nooyi Indra K. Nooyi, the Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, world's largest convenient food and beverage companies, is a leading example of how the women power has made its mark in managing the corporate affairs. Coming from a humble background in India, Mrs. Nooyi has traveled a long distance prior to becoming the top decision maker in Pepsi in 2006. She has served on the board of Pepsi since 2001, when she was named as the President and Chief Financial Officer1. Prior to her career with Pepsi, Ms. Nooyi has also served in Motorola as Vice President and Director of Corporate Strategy and Planning besides serving is some other renowned companies. This goes on to show that she has worked really hard to make it to the top post and she did not get the job out of sympathy or partial considerations. Acknowledging her business acumen leading bodies like Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the International Rescue Committee and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City have nominated her on their board of directors. A recent study by Forbes, places her on the top of the 13 highest paid female CEOs in America (Kirdahy, 2008). Though, her total compensation is stated to be just about one-fourteenth of the highest-paid male counterpart, yet the process can be stated to have become in right earnest. It is worthwhile here to mention that she comes from a conservative family in India, and yet she has been able to to lead a company without the conservatism coming in the way goes on to prove her caliber and the importance of diversity on the business horizon. Unlike most other CEOs, she prefers to put on her traditional trademark outfit, which not only addresses her traditional beliefs but makes her one of the kind. A company like Pepsi with its footprints all around the globe in good measure, managing the operations, political situations, human resources etc. requires a dependable team under an able leadership and Ms. Nooyi appears to be cut up as an appropriate choice for such tasks. Cultural conflict is considered as one of the biggest roadblocks in the progress of a company the world-over, but managing such cultural diverse with equal finesse at all operational sites has certainly added a feather in the cap of its leader. Andrea Jung Andrea Jung is another name in the corporate world, having made a niche for herself as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the leading beauty products company Avon Products Inc. Though the company is women specific, catering to the growing demand of women, yet it can be said for sure that she is also able to break into the top echelons owing to her remarkable achievements in the corporate world. Forbes names her as the second highest paid CEO in America today. Ms. Jung is a respectable name in the field of cosmetics world. She has also served as the first woman elected chair of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association for four years. Recognizing her talent and business acumen, renowned companies like General Electric and Apple have also put her on their board of directors. Ms. Jung is also a member of the New York Presbyterian Hospital Board of Trustees and the Catalyst Board of Directors2. In fact in a study carried out by Forbes, Ms. Jung has been placed at 19th position in a list of world's top 100 most powerful women. Placed with luminaries like Ms. Condoleezza Rice, Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates, Wu Yi etc., Ms Jung certainly deserves a respectable mention when we talk about the effective management of corporate affairs by the so called 'weaker sex'. Anne M. Mulcahy Ms. Anne is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Xerox, a household name all across the globe in the photocopier and documentation field. She became CEO of the company in 2001 and subsequently took over as its Chairman in 2002. Xerox went through some turbulent times in the recent past, yet the company is solidly placed with revenue figures of $17.2 billion during its 2007 year's operations. In fact, she has made consistent strides all through her tenure with the company. Starting her career from a field sales representative in way back in 1976, she continued to be a loyal worker for the company. Her ability to manage the sales figures and subsequently the human resources and business operations was admired by all concerned. Xerox too is a company with worldwide presence. Besides the esteem value attached with the brand, what helps Xerox today is that the company has provided equal opportunities to the diverse workforce. The changing HR scenario, the economic conditions, technological advancements, demographic situation and socio-cultural environment are the key ingredients towards making of a successful leader. What the leader is supposed to do is to keep an eye on the changes and adjust the strategies accordingly. Ms. Anne M. Mulcahy has been able to do all this quite convincingly over all these years, for which she has been placed at third place in the list of highest paid CEOs of America. Ms. Anne seems to realize fully well that a company will be able to serve a wide range of customers provided their increasingly complex management and business problems can be served to fullest satisfaction. For carrying out such tasks the company requires an active support from a diverse range of workers. Margaret (Meg) Whitman Whiteman, the Chief executive of world's largest online auction company eBay has been termed as one of the 'most powerful women' around the world. Placed at number 5 in the list, Ms Whiteman is one of the youngest CEOs around the world today. The online auction space is in fact dotted with fierce competition with the presence of the likes of Amazon.com and Yahoo. But credit goes to an able leadership of eBay, who have successfully devised appropriate strategies at appropriate times to take on the competition. In successfully thwarting the onslaught of the competition the workforce, i.e. the 'people' play a crucial role. Irrespective of the nature and specialization of the company, it can be said for sure that, 'people' form the core of its activities and therefore, the behavior and character of these very 'people' will affect the overall character of the organization. An able leadership works to supplement the diversity in order to encourage innovation and competitive edge. Whiteman has served in the past with many blue chip companies like Hasbro, the Walt Disney Co. Bain & Co. etc. Renowned companies like DreamWorks Animation, Procter & Gamble and the Gap consider it their honor to have Ms. Whiteman on their governing boards3. Conclusion Diversity at workplace is indeed a fact of life in today's corporate environment. While on the one hand the working community has become mobile, the job requirements too have become quite diverse as well. A company with its headquarters in New York might have to manage its field or production offices in London, New Delhi or Manila. Similarly, a company office in London might be having workforce from different nationalities, sex, race etc. All this calls for the adequate knowledge about the diverse job requirements, working conditions, socio-cultural information etc. The manager is supposed to be well aware of all such requirements, in order to meet the targets, keep workforce in good humor and outdo the competitors. The way, women employees have started expressing themselves in the corporate world, bodes well for the society at large as well, because women in general are considered to keep cool in trying conditions. The examples of successful leading ladies on top in the hierarchy, successfully managing corporate affairs has helped the cause of diversity management in general and empowering the women in particular. Let's set our eyes on future. References: 1. Avon (2008). Hello Tomorrow. Available online at http://www.avoncompany.com/investor/seniormanagement/jung.html (Sept 25, 2008) 2. Dickens, L. (1994). 'The business case for women's equality: is the carrot better than the stick Employee Relations 16 (8). 3. Forbes (2008). The 100 Most Powerful Women. Available online at http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/11/5AW7.html (Sept 26, 2008) 4. Kirdahy, Matt (2008). America's Highest-Paid Female CEOs. Available online at http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2008/07/28/pepsi-avon-xerox-lead-comp-cx_mk_0728toppaidwomenceo.html (September 24, 2008) 5. Pepsi Co (2008). Available online at http://www.pepsico.com/or=pusa.1067 (September 26, 2008) 6. Terry, George R and Franklin, Stephen G. (1994). Principles of Management. Richard D Irwin Inc. USA Read More