The Impact of Diversity on Creativity - Essay Example

The Impact of Diversity on Creativity Faced with this particular case brings us to two old adages: “Two heads are better than one,” and “Too many chefs spoils the broth.” The former promotes cooperation, while the latter discourages it, insinuating that having too many heads, or hands, will result to a less palatable broth. But the question is, what is the case? What effects does diversity have on creativity? Segal (2001) offers this definition for creativity “… (it) is personal expression.

It results from a restlessness to improve or change the status quo meaningfully, knowledgeably, responsibly and with impact.” Diversity, on the other hand, is comprised of “new ideas from variety of sources (that) likewise ensure that all the best ideas and practical knowledge is applied for corporate and organizational unit survival and growth. This is particularly relevant for companies now with the call for both incremental and revolutionary change to enliven the vision and mission” Segal (2001).

Coupled with diversity, these individual personal expressions—creativity—can bring about innovative results that would be beneficial to organizations where they are utilized.Let us take the workplace as an example. Many companies hire people from different ethnic backgrounds. And apparently for very good reasons. The recent years saw the number of corporate managers subscribing to the idea that “when well managed,” ethnic diversity in the workplace can “provide organizations with certain competitive advantages.

” (McLeod, Lobel & Cox 1996). These managers believe that ideas, which the ethnically diverse groups come up with, are often found to have “higher quality—more effective and feasible—than the ideas produced by the homogeneous groups,” or the group of people with the same ethnicity. According to McLeod, Lobel & Cox (1996), an enlightened manager realizes that stronger unity exists within diversity. As Lisagor (2006) states;A group of people who think alike and look alike at the expense of others often achieves less meaningful results.

On the other hand, leaders who appreciate the value of different life experiences, surround themselves with many types of individuals, and encourage dissenting views are usually rewarded with greater success and personal satisfaction. Advocates for diversity argue that having people with diverse backgrounds will offer diverse ideas to the company. This in turn, benefits companies for having different perspectives and are bound to perform better. ReferencesLisagor, Michael (2006). Lisagor: Diversity generates creativity.

Federal Computer Week article. http://fcw.com/articles/2006/04/03/lisagor-diversity-generates-creativity.aspx/ (accessed November 16, 2009).McLeod, Poppy Lauretta, Sharon Alisa Lobel and Taylor H. Cox, Jr., eds. (1996). Ethnic Diversity and Creativity in Small Groups. Sage Journals Online article. http://sgr.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/27/2/248/ (accessed November 16, 2009).Segal, M. (2001) Creativity and Personality Type: Tools for Understanding and Inspiring the Many Voices of Creativity.

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