Diversity - Answers Real or perceived differences among people that affect their interactions and
relationships
Employment (labor market) discrimination - Answers Valuation of personal characteristic of applicants in
the labor market that are not related to productivity
Access discrimination - Answers Denying an individual access to jobs based on areas that are not related
to productivity
Treatment discrimination - Answers Unfair treatment of individuals once they are employed
Inclusion - Answers Degree to which different voices of a diverse workforce are respected and heard
In inclusive organizations, employees:
Feel accepted
Feel a sense of belongingness
Contribute to decision-making processes
Social Hierarchy - Answers Ranking of individuals or groups, explicitly or implicitly, based on valued
social dimensions
Increased ethnic diversity in U.S. has created a multi-racial hierarchy
In multi-racial hierarchy there is diversity, but without equality and inclusion
Cox and Blake's Reasons to Value Organizational Diversity - Answers Cost, resource acquisition,
marketing, creativity and problem solving, system flexibility
cost - Answers Employee turnover costs, litigation costs, and lost business due to unfair treatment of
applicants, employees, and customers.
Resource acquisition - Answers Improves the ability to compete for employees
Marketing - Answers Reputation for valuing all types of workers affects the ability to market to different
types of consumers and avoid expensive marketing gaffes
Creativity and problem solving - Answers Groups composed of diverse members produce more solutions
to problems and ideas of higher-quality, and better decisions.
System flexibility - Answers Diverse life experiences help develop cognitive flexibility, openness to
experience, and perspective-taking abilities
, Internal Difficulties with Diversity - Answers Dysfunctional communication processes
Discrimination
Harassment
Perceptions that nontraditional workers are unqualified
Lowered attachment, commitment, and satisfaction
External Difficulties with Diversity - Answers Boycotts
Negative publicity
Benefits to Individuals - Answers Changes in social and cognitive outcomes
Learning to interact with others in meaningful ways
Viewing diversity as not necessarily being divisive
Seeing commonality in values
Learning to take the perspective of others
Increased awareness of social problems and support for diversity efforts
Increased tolerance for others
Learning from others who are different
Minorities and Non-Dominant Groups - Answers Subordinated to majority or dominant group members
in terms of power, prestige, and privilege
Does not necessarily mean groups that are numerically fewer than majority group members
Common characteristics include identifiability, differential power, experience of discrimination, and
group awareness
Identifiable Characteristics of Minorities - Answers Distinguishable and readily apparent differences in
physical or cultural traits
Stigma: Deviations from the desired norm in a certain context
Differential power characteristics of Minorities - Answers Permits those who have more power to
control those who have less power
Enables powerful groups to control access to education, employment, food, health care, income, and
voting rights