Managing Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing Diversity - Essay Example has emerged within the past 20 years and spawned from the equal opportunity act which was promulgated in the workforce by the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This law extended voting rights and outlawed racial segregation in the schools, housing or hiring practices. With the passage of this act, American organizations began to hire new employees from different races, ethnic backgrounds and religions into sectors they were once excluded from. There is an undeniable difference between diversity and equal opportunity. Equal opportunity employment has deep historical roots. The law was enacted after years of unfair practices in different sectors denied equal opportunities simply based upon a person’s race, gender or national origin. The passing of this law developed a definition for minorities and now prohibits discrimination based upon a person’s age, gender, religion, sex, race, color or national origin. Diversity promotes accepting individual differences. The business ideals of diversity states that inclusion of a diverse workforce better equip a company to thrive in a marketplace. Exclusion of a diverse approach isolates demographics and limits perspectives. An example of such an implementation of diversity is the inspirational movie Glory Road. The 1966 college basketball team base on the Texas Westerns won the NCAA championship while promoting diversity. Don Haskins, the first year coach of the team, pioneered diversity by recruiting players deemed best for the positions and sidestepping traditional hiring practices. The hiring of the new folks in nontraditional roles is an exemplary example of the advantages of diversity. The team put racial differences aside and worked collectively to attain the coveted championship prize. Peter F. Drucker, author of â€Å"The Theory of the Business† (1995: 100) reveals that a valid theory of business suggests that the assumptions about environment, mission and core competencies must fit reality.. Over