7.7. Maximizing Workplace Diversity
Learn/Perform Mixtape
English - December 11, 2019 19:40 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MB - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingCareers Business Education How To learning performance training talent development instructional design change management study notes Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
AOE 7. Integrated Talent Management; 7.7. Maximizing Workplace Diversity
Diversity is more that "good for the bottom line" -- it improves our organizations functions, creativity, productivity, and awareness to new ideas and innovative approaches for how we work and learn.
Learning Objectives:
Compare and contrast high-context and low-context cultures, and discuss how communication differs when dealing with each of theseExplain considerations regarding personal space and workplace diversity trainingList two strategies that are used to create diverse workforceProvide examples of the needs of the Baby Boomer generation versus Generation X, Y, and Z and how this may have an effect on career planning programsIdentify strategies that could be used to facilitate inclusion in multiracial, multigenerational environmentsREAD: Workplace Diversity Through Recruitment: A Step-By-Step Guide via Ideal
Cultural Awareness: Training material sand software for global use need to be designed from the start with multilingual and multicultural participants in mind. Culture arises from shared behaviors, values, and beliefs shaped by such factors as language, religion, cuisine, music, etc. Culture influences the value society puts on individualism versus group action, tolerance for uncertainty, a willingness to take risks, and ways of interacting with a trainer and peers for professional learning, which impacts other factors such as communication and interaction for talent development.
BOOK: Developing Localization Friendly ELearning by Kieran McBrien (2015)
Power Distance Differences: high-power cultures emphasize more traditional teach-student relations -- here are the differences:
High Power Distance | Low Power Distance
Formal relationships | Informal relationships
High dependence | Low dependence
Teacher oriented | Learner oriented
Impersonal | Highly personal
Status emphasis | Equality emphasis
Fixed approach | Variable approach
Conformity | Experimentation
Some features of culture, such as language and dress, are immediately apparent. Other features, such as attitudes about age, personal space, work, time, and reactions to authority, may be subtle.
Gender Equality: In the US, after the Civil Rights Active of 1964, American corporations still did not not deal with gender discrimination in the workplace -- many claims were made each year revealing that women in particular still experience discrimination in pay and advancement. This is SLOWLY being worked on to deal with gender discrimination and pay inequity issues -- but we’re still not there. The importance of gender varies by country, nationality, culture, and more.
BONUS LISTENS: The #InVinoFab Podcast https://invinofab.transistor.fm/ these specific episodes:
Race Awareness: Implementing diversity and awareness can only help the bottom line. The CPLP guide on this is out of date -- those organizations who do not embrace or consider any diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for any aspect of talent management will not contribute to enhance individual or organizational missions, visions, or goals. Identifying racial or ethical differences are key to understanding how individuals interact, communicate, and engage in work. That’s my “off script” insights to what I read -- bringing awareness to racial issues and viewpoints allows the organization to benefit by:
Attracting and retaining the best and brightest candidates from all cultures/backgroundsIncreases the market share and creates a satisfied customer base with changing demographicsEmployees learn to communicative with and truly understand one another which lets them be more innovative, responsive, and productiveExpansion of job candidate pools and criteria for hiring and promoting employees with fair opportunitiesIncrease employee engagement to increase employee retentionDiversity fosters a range of different perspectives and results in better decisions, innovative product development, better customer service, and expansion into new marketsAn inclusive culture develops more flexible & broader-thinking leaders for a global economyOverall organizational performance improves when people are encouraged to overcome cultural misunderstanding and appreciate differencesEmployees feel more valued and tend to be more productive
Generational Differences: There are 4-5 generations at work together, depending on where you are working in the world (see 7.3. Career Development Theories & Approaches); that being said talent development professionals want to strive to raise workplace awareness of the diversity and differences for how these different generations approach and perceive work. This can prevent conflict and encourage cooperation in an organization.
Personal Space: This is a cultural item -- space between individuals varies depending on the cultural context. This matters for training, mentoring, coaching, and other interactions for talent management/development. Mentioned before in an earlier podcast episode, Proxemics, is the relationship of people’s positions in space. Hall (1969) defined four spatial relationships:
Disability Awareness: In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 has a number of implications for training and learning design for people who need access. The ADA prohibits discrimination in employment, public services, transportation, public accommodations, and telecommunication services. This includes aspects of employment such as job applications, selection processes, on-the-job-training, wage increases, benefits, and employer-sponsored social activities. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for professionals to access and perform the essential functions for the designated job.
Implications for Multiple Languages: For difference learning experiences, it might be helpful to offer training and learning materials in multiple languages depending on the workplace setting, geographic location, or needs within the professional group. These will help to add to learning and talent development:
Facilitation of Inclusion: it is important to include new cultural ideas or identities for various groups who are part of your talent management plan. In looking at your training analysis and planning processes for employee development programs, HR functions and top management may develop a strategy to interview and hire for differences to broaden div...