Importance Of Understanding
The Importance of Understanding Cultural, Ethnic, and Gender Differences by Managers and Professionals in a Business Setting
Denise Greenwood
DeVry University
Diversity in the workplace refers to the variety of differences of people in the work setting. Understanding the cultural, ethnic, and gender differences by businesses and managers is very important. Hospitals have come to realize that employers from various ethnic, cultural, and gender backgrounds, bring a great deal of perspective. Because of an increase in patients being of different backgrounds and ethnicities, having a clear understanding of cultural, ethnic and gender differences among professionals is very important. (Dennis & Small, 2003). Businesses can benefit from having a multicultural group of employees conveying new and improved ideas and views in the workplace. To be effective, all the staff needs to recognize, appreciate, and get the most out of these differences. This will reduce stress and make the workplace better.
It is important for managers and staff to have education and training on diversity. Having an understanding of these differences will improve increase employee satisfaction and performance potential. With a higher global workplace environment, being able to communicate with those of different cultures or backgrounds efficiently is a vital skill. There are many benefits to having diversity. Every person brings different skills and solutions to problems. “Valuing diversity can benefit organizations in the areas of cost, resource acquisition, marketing, creativity, problem solving, and system flexibility”. (Bell, Kwesiga, & Berry, 2010). When the employee feels valued or accepted, there is an increase in satisfaction in the workplace.
There are advantages and disadvantages by having different cultures. Recognition of this by Managers is important. People continue to stereotype individuals from other races and cultures. Managers must find a way to overcome
Denise Greenwood
DeVry University
Diversity in the workplace refers to the variety of differences of people in the work setting. Understanding the cultural, ethnic, and gender differences by businesses and managers is very important. Hospitals have come to realize that employers from various ethnic, cultural, and gender backgrounds, bring a great deal of perspective. Because of an increase in patients being of different backgrounds and ethnicities, having a clear understanding of cultural, ethnic and gender differences among professionals is very important. (Dennis & Small, 2003). Businesses can benefit from having a multicultural group of employees conveying new and improved ideas and views in the workplace. To be effective, all the staff needs to recognize, appreciate, and get the most out of these differences. This will reduce stress and make the workplace better.
It is important for managers and staff to have education and training on diversity. Having an understanding of these differences will improve increase employee satisfaction and performance potential. With a higher global workplace environment, being able to communicate with those of different cultures or backgrounds efficiently is a vital skill. There are many benefits to having diversity. Every person brings different skills and solutions to problems. “Valuing diversity can benefit organizations in the areas of cost, resource acquisition, marketing, creativity, problem solving, and system flexibility”. (Bell, Kwesiga, & Berry, 2010). When the employee feels valued or accepted, there is an increase in satisfaction in the workplace.
There are advantages and disadvantages by having different cultures. Recognition of this by Managers is important. People continue to stereotype individuals from other races and cultures. Managers must find a way to overcome
References: Carter, R.T., Goodwin, A.T. Teachers College Record Volume 102 Number 5, 2000, p. 864-897 http://www.tcrecord.org ID Number: 10612, Date Accessed: 11/2/2014 9:17:16 PM Dennis, B. P., & Small, E. B. (2003). Incorporating cultural diversity in nursing care: an action plan. Official Journal of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty in Higher Education, 14(1), 17-26. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12696537 Myrtle P. Bell, Eileen N. Kwesiga, Daphne P. Berry, (2010) "Immigrants: The new “invisible men and women” in diversity research", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 25 Iss: 2, pp.177 – 188