“diversity in the workplace” a workshop for sdfs facilitated by theresa oakley-smith
TRANSCRIPT
Overview of the Workshop
Why do we need training in Diversity?
What is workplace diversity?
What are its challenges?
Understanding the transformation framework (BBEE;EE;SD)
Assessing my life experiences
Understanding stereotyping
Impact of stereotyping in the workplace
Implementing diversity in the workplace
Leveraging diversity in the workplace
“If relationships within organisations
are not based on valued diversity, then how will we interact in
a proactive and positive way with a
diverse outside world”
What is dversity?
“Diversity is the sum of all the people who bring a variety of
backgrounds, styles, perspectives, values and
beliefs as assets to the groups and organisations in which
they interact”.
Creating a climate in which the potential advantages of diversity for organisational or group performance
are maximised while the potential disadvantages are minimised.
(Cox & Beale)
Implementing management initiatives and practices in such a way that the
environment works for all employees.
(Carnevale & Kogod)
Diversity Concepts:Managing Diversity
“Recognising and appreciating that individuals are different, that
diversity is an advantage if it is valued and well managed.”
“Diversity is not simply to be tolerated but encouraged, supported and nurtured.”
What is Valuing Diversity?
Benefits of Managed Diversity in the Workplace
Performance advantages
Enhances creativity & innovation
Improves problem solving quality
Enhances marketing (cross cultural difference in consumer behaviour)
Enhances organisational flexibility
Challenges of Diversity
Stereotypes & associated assumptions
Actual cultural differences
Exclusivity of “in-group” and / or associated access to information & relationships
Unwritten rules & double standards for success
Lack of Communication
Assessing my Life Experiences
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Family of origin
Neighbourhood as a child
Primary School
High School
First work experience
Current work experience
Neighbourhood now
Current friendship groups
Stereotyping
Stereotyping is an unconscious process by which individuals are viewed as members of groups, & the information we have stored in our minds about the group is ascribed to the individual.
Stereotyping is an exaggerated belief associated with a category
Its function is to justify / rationalise our conduct in relation to that category
A stereotype is not necessarily a valid generalisation about the group
It is never applicable to all members of the group
Stereotypes in the Workplace
Encourage low expectations
Encourage managers to perceive risk in employing minority groups
Affect how jobs are assigned
Affect how people are treated (e.g. as subordinates)
Result in low morale / loss of energy
Reduce motivation
You’ve Got To Be Taught…
You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear
You’ve got to be taught from year to year
You’ve got to be taughtbefore it’s too late
before you’re six or seven or eight
to hate all peopleyour relatives hate
You’ve got to be carefully taught.
DIVERSITY AGENDA
Getting to knowGetting to acceptGetting to value
Managing Effectively
Leveraging difference
Business Benefits
The Diversity Journey
Implementation PlanConduct A Diversity Audit
Consult
Analysis
Revising Policy
Develop Report
•
Interviews
•
Observations
Barriers to implementation
Failure of senior leadership to be involved
Complexity not understood
Business imperative not understood
Insufficient resources
Failure to understand the need
Internal or External
InternalCost effectiveOwnershipSustainabilityUnderstanding of
organisationInexperienceDealing with conflictCareer limiting
External Expertise Comparison Credibility Deal with emotion
better Openness Trust Professionalism
Skills Transfer
How to evaluate providers
Accreditation
Track record
CV’s of trainers
Organisational fit
Prepared to customise
Ongoing support
Structural Pillars
OWNERSHIPCONTROL
PROCUREMENTCSI
BB BEE
NUMERICAL GOALSENABLING ENVIRONMENT
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY
DEVELOPMENT / TRAININGCOACHING MENTORING
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
INTEGRATED PLAN FASSET
Olive Schreiner:
“The ultimate chant of the human race is not to be
conceived as a monotone chanted on one note by one form of humanity alone but rather as choral symphony chanted by all races and all nations in diverse tones on different notes in one grand
complex harmony”