Cultural diversity in the workplace. the positve and negative effect Essay

Cultural diversity in the workplace. the positve and negative effect - Essay Example Cultural diversity incorporates differences based on race, ethnicity, sex, social class, nationality, religion, color and sexual identity (Thomas and Ely 2001, p. 229). Members of a cultural identity share common worldviews, values, norms, goals and cultural heritage, cultural markers being communicated through communication style, shared meanings and dialects or languages. Cultural identity is socially constructed, complex, and dynamic and is associated with some power position, status, and a certain degree of prestige. For instance, in Western society males have a more powerful status and higher positions in political system than females, just like whites have a more powerful position than people of color, heterosexuals are more powerful than homosexuals, etc (Thomas and Ely 2001, p. 229). The discussion of the diversity in the workplace began early in 1990’s. The US workforce was changing rapidly. Traditionally it was represented mostly by white males. However, since 1970s ever more women and minorities joined the workforce. In 1993 it was expected that by the year 2000 only one in seven of new employees would be a white male. The old way of assimilating diversity (people were expected to hide their cultural differences to fit into the company’s dominant culture) was abandoned. Diversity started being treated as an asset bringing â€Å"a broad range of viewpoints and problem-solving skills to the company† (Black Enterprise 1993, p.1). Workforce 2000 Today survey showed that by 1991 â€Å"issues of cultural diversity and women in the work force were becoming increasingly important in decision-making and strategic planning – especially strategic planning†. 60 percent of the respondents said their management viewed diversity as an asse t, not as a problem (Black Enterprise 1993, p.1). However, Ben Harrison questioned the reliability of those 60% emphasizing that most managers didn’t have a clue as to what diversity meant. He explained that