Multiformity in the Workplace Essay example - 659 Words

INTRODUCTION Diversity is defined as a multi-dimensional mixture of people who vary by age, gender, race, religion, or life-style. Workplace diversity refers to variety and multiformity in the workplace. This multiformity can be driven in numerous ways; demographic composition of geographical location, an aging population, increasing presence of women in the workplace to mention a few. In this paper we examine how diversity can be manages using operant and social learning practices to reduce the incidence of workplace stereotypes. Diversity in the workplace With market globalization and international competition, firms have come to realise that a diverse workplace is a strong competitive advantage in today’s markets. It helps to attract†¦show more content†¦More often than not, final opinions tend to generalise diverse individuals resulting in statements of hasty generalizations about diverse groups â€Å"Stereotypes†. Attritions and motives are assumed to explain individual distinctiveness or performance in the workplace. Successful workplace diversity requires the throwing out whatever mental stereotypes we have built and understanding the value in difference. Sexual, racial and ethnic stereotypes need to be discarded before an organization can successfully move from â€Å"tolerating diversity† to â€Å"valuing diversity†. This requires members of the organization to â€Å"unlearn† diversity tolerance and learn the value in diversity. Operant and Social learning In the context of our discussion, learning refers to a relatively permanent change in behaviour to reflect the value in diversity that can occur within an organization due to practice or experience3. Personalities and behaviours can be strongly moulded by experiences and the work environment. Intrapersonal skills such as conflict resolution, teamwork and communicating are behaviours which need to be influenced to achieve a work environment that values diversity. Individual behaviours can be influenced through observations of the prevalent behaviours in the environment. This is achieved through imitation, self efficacy and self management. Stereotyping can lead to antisocial behaviours that directly targeted at our mental stereotypes inShow MoreRelatedLiterature Review Job Design and Workforce Diversity Improve Performance1224 Words   |  5 Pagesorganisation. Workforce diversity is a term that describes the differences and similarities of employee characteristics including age, gender, race, cultural background, education, disabilities, physical abilities and etc. which creates the range of multiformity among human beings in workforce. According to Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright, 2013, p. 177), job design is systematic process to identify and allocate the tasks to individuals and organisation including four approaches mechanistic, motivationalRead MoreQuestions On Human Resource Management Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagesemployees. A decent HR office is requesting to a representative arranged work environment in which workers are empowered and locked in. HR acts as a backbone of an organization. The importance of HR is easily overlooked in the busy day-to-day in the workplace, but without contributions in each of these areas, the organization would be less successful. Human resources management in Operational contexts: In operational Context,HRM staff embers are top level administrators.The tasks done by HRM members