Multicultural Diversity in the Workplace for the Tourism Professional Module (TMHM 9 )
CHAPTER 2
CONCEPT OF DIVERSITY
People who are different and have varied attitudes, desires, ambitions, beliefs,
and work habits make up today's workforce, which is becoming more diversity in
terms of gender, color, ethnicity, and national origin.
Managers must understand not just the cultural origins of their employees, but
also the degree of diversity they bring with them, in order for a business to be
successful.
As a consequence, managers in both public and private businesses must
understand, predict, and manage the diverse workforce's interesting nature.
Concept of Diversity
Acceptance and respect are two aspects of the notion of diversity. It involves
understanding and respecting the reality that tach individual is unique. These
inequalities may be based on race, age, status, financial status, physical ability,
religious beliefs, and other variables. As a consequence, these disparities must
be examined in a safe, pleasant, and loving environment.
Diversity is a critical topic that must be well understood. Thomas R. Roosevelt
was among the first to draw attention to diversity management.
Diversity is a general issue for businesses, and as such, it must be managed with
caution. Various writers have characterized workforce diversity or diversity in a
variety of ways. Among them are the following:
1. Van Knippenberg and Schippers (2007) define diversity as a social grouping
(i.e., a group, organization, or society) characteristic that reflects the degree to which
there are objective or subjective differences between people within the group without
assuming that group members are necessarily aware of objective differences or that
subjective differences are strongly related to more objective differences.
2. Age, gender, ethnicity, education, religion, and culture are some of the ways
that individuals vary that may influence a job or relationship inside an
organization, according to Carrell (2006). It is the investigation of these disparities
in a secure, pleasant, and caring setting. It is about getting to know one another and
going beyond mere tolerance to embrace and celebrate the rich aspects of variety
that each person inside the company has.
3. According to Kim, B.Y. (2006), diversity may be defined as the wide range of
differences that distinguishes an organization's people resources. This
multidimensional perspective of diversity implies that people vary on a variety of
aspects. While certain characteristics (such as color and gender) are clearly
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Multicultural Diversity in the Workplace for the Tourism Professional Module (TMHM 9 )
apparent, others are less so (i.e. values, personality, education, experience, sexual
orientation and religion).
4. Workforce diversity is defined by Soni and Vidu (2000) as differences between
individuals based on gender, race/ ethnicity, age, religion, physical or mental
impairment, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
5. According to Wentling and Palma Rivas (2000), diversity is the coexistence of
workers from different socio-cultural origins inside the business. Cultural
characteristics such as race, gender, age, color, physical ability, ethnicity, and so on
are examples of diversity. Age, national origin, religion, handicap, sexual orientation,
values, ethnic culture, education, language, life style, beliefs, physical appearance,
and economic position are all examples of variety.
6. According to Jehn, Nortcraft, and Neale (1999), diversity is the degree to
which a workgroup or organization is diverse in terms of personal and
functional characteristics.
7. According to Kundu and Turan (1999), diversity refers to the cohabitation of
individuals from different socio-cultural backgrounds inside a business.
Cultural characteristics such as race, gender, age, color, physical ability, ethnicity,
and so on are examples of diversity.
8. According to Griggs (1995), variety comprises all of the ways in which individuals
vary, as well as all of the various traits that distinguish one person or group from
another.It is all-inclusive and acknowledges everyone and every group as valuable
contributors to diversity.
Features of Diversity
The features of workforce diversity are as follows:
1. Multidimensional: Diversity is multidimensional because it encompasses both
visible and unseen human aspects.
2. Inclusion: Diversity encompasses both differences and similarities among
individuals.
3. Pros and Cons: Diversity, when handled correctly, may provide a competitive
advantage for a company; but, it mishandled, it can lead to the firm's demise.
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Multicultural Diversity in the Workplace for the Tourism Professional Module (TMHM 9 )
Dimensions of Diversity
In terms of the aspects of diversity, various writers have varied perspectives. Some
of them have been listed below:
1. Loden used a concentric circle to depict the dimensions of variety. In the
innermost circle, nine main aspects of variety have been displayed: class, gender,
age, color, ethnicity, income, spiritual beliefs, sexuality, and physical talents
and traits. These aspects have a big impact on a person's values, self-image, and
identity, as well as their opportunities and views of others. In the outer circle,
secondary characteristics such as job experience, communication style,
cognitive style, political views, education, geographic location, organization
position and level, military experience, work style, first language, and family
status have been demonstrated. The circle of main and secondary aspects of
variety is shown below.
2. Griggs classified
variation into two types: primary and secondary dimensions. Primary dimensions of
variation relate to inborn human traits that have a continuing influence on a person's
life, including early socialization. The six major factors are age, ethnicity, gender,
physical abilities/ qualities, race, and sexual orientation. These are unalterable.
Secondary dimensions of diversity, on the other hand, are those that may
be changed, such as educational background, geographic location, marital status,
parental status, religious beliefs and work experience, military experience, and so
on.
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Multicultural Diversity in the Workplace for the Tourism Professional Module (TMHM 9 )
3. John Hopkins explained the concept of diversity in the form of a wheel. The
center of the wheel indicates internal dimensions which are generally most
permanent or visible.
The outermost part of the wheel represents the dimensions which are
acquired and undergo a change with the passage of time. The combination of all of
these dimensions has an influence over the values, behaviors, beliefs, experiences and
expectations of a person.
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Multicultural Diversity in the Workplace for the Tourism Professional Module (TMHM 9 )
Responses to Diversity
Managers' and workers' reactions to diversity may take a variety of forms, each
of which may be appropriate in various circumstances. Below is the outlined eight
responses: exclusion, denial, repression, segregation, assimilation, tolerance,
relationship building, and reciprocal adaptation.
1. Exclusion: This entails keeping members of various groups out or driving
members of different groups out once they are in.
2. Denial: Individuals with this reaction think that they can ignore the
organization's cultural peculiarities.
3. Suppression: Individuals are taught to keep their differences to themselves.
4. Segregation: This is the practice of assigning members of certain groups to
specific jobs or departments.
5. Assimilation: It aims to convert members of a heterogeneous group into
carbon copies of the dominant group. For this kind of reaction, the organization mostly
employs affirmative action initiatives.
6. Tolerance: In this scenario, individual differences are recognized, but efforts
are made to limit contact across groups.
7. Connection Establishing: It is thought that building a healthy relationship
would help to overcome difficulties.
8. Promoting Mutual Adaptation: This method believes in embracing and
comprehending differences and diversity.
As a result, no one can dispute that in today's world, there is a culturally diverse
workforce in virtually every company.
