Managing diversity through effective communication

Ng, Eddy S.;Barker, James R.

Abstract

A key human resource challenge facing employers is managing an increasingly diverse workforce. Diversity encompasses a broad range of human dimensions such as age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, social class, education, national origin, and language (Shore et al., 2009). Projections from the U.S. Census Bureau (2012) suggest that the workforce will become more diverse from a racial and ethnocultural perspective. By the year 2020, the labor participation rate will be highest among Hispanics and Asians, outpacing the rate for Whites. According to the “value-in-diversity” hypothesis (Cox, 1993), workforce diversity when properly managed can be a source of competitive advantage for organizations and employers, including greater creativity and innovation, attraction of the best talents, and greater marketplace success (Cox & Blake, 1991; Robinson & Dechant, 1997). However, workplace diversity when left unmanaged can also detract from organizational performance with issues stemming from group cohesion, communication, and turnover (Grimes & Richard, 2003; Roberge & van Dick, 2010).

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Meeting the Challenges of Human Resource Management: a communication perspective

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978-0-415-63020-7

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Routledge

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New York, NY, USA

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