Management, Work and Organisation ( Managing diversity) - Essay Example

Management, Work and Organization Managing diversity Diversity in workplace is essentially the diversity of workforce in terms of race, caste, color, religion, region, and culture. Diversity in workplace has become an essential component of the organizational culture in many advanced countries. This can, in part, be attributed to the anti-racism forces that are strengthening up in the present age. People, all over the world, have largely developed a hatred for racism, and would promote every way in which racism can be uprooted from the society.

Multiculturalism in the workplace is an essential symbol of equality and is consistent with the anti-racial mood of the modern era. Because of several political and socio-economic factors, it is often not possible for companies to recruit employees that are diverse in every respect. This may happen when a company produces religion specific products. It requires great consideration by an statue making company to resolve whether or not to hire Muslim employees, as the idea goes against the Islamic teachings that forbid Muslims from making idols.

Likewise, managers may not be able to employ candidates that belong to countries which have long been in conflict with each other. For example, if a company hires an employee from Israel and another from Palestine, the two may never be able to develop the kind of rapport that is conducive for speedy work, and organizational success in the long run. Instead, the two may develop personal grudge against each other on the cost of organizational work, which can in turn be very detrimental for the organization as a whole.

Moreover, there are companies whose products are not usable for every member of the society. For example, pork producing companies have no market value among the Muslim nationals just like the beef producing companies have no market value among the Hindu nationals. Diversity in workplace is a demand of the work in the contemporary age because of a number of reasons in addition to the anti-racial message it promotes. In the present age, competition in the market is more than ever before. Companies are coming up with new and innovative ideas in order to gain competitive advantage over their contemporaries.

Diversity in workplace is one of such strategies because it increases the circle of consumers for a company. As the various communities of the society find their representation in the company in terms of selection of an employee from among them, they tend to develop good rapport with the company and are more willing to use its products. Government’s responsibility is to legislate. What needs to be found is if it is reasonable to legislate that every company should provide equal employment opportunities for all members of the society, or else, the cultural, regional, and religional differences of the individuals have to be given due importance so as to allow the companies to have specific criteria for recruitment based on the requirements of religion and culture (Noon, 2007).

Irrespective of the outcomes, equality in workplace requires the managers to consider all workers equal and every employee’s individualistic beliefs are to be respected. References: Noon, M 2007, The fatal flaws of diversity and the business case for ethnic minorities, Work Employment Society, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 773-784, viewed, 22 May, 2011, .