Page 96 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

Diversity and the Effects of Culture 79

In this century, demographics in the United States will change dramatically, and
1
this phenomenon will have a profound effect on all forms of communication. Trans-
actions between people of different ethnic, racial, and age groups require patience and
2
increased attention to the communication process. The workplace in the twenty- first
century will be characterized by unprecedented diversity in gender, age, ability, and
minority and immigrant status. 3
We use the term diversity to encompass a wide variety of differences, including eth-
4
nicity, race, age, social class, education, and sexual preference, among others. Contem-
porary approaches to diversity go beyond tolerance of differences; they celebrate and
capitalize on differences without necessarily trying to force assimilation into the domi-
nant culture of the United States. These approaches demand sensitive and effective com-
5
munication. A review of how individual and cultural differences can affect a group
conclude that, unless group members are sensitive, groups can experience highly differen-
tial rates of participation, poor management of conflict, and factionalism between in-
6
groups and out- groups. Good communication can reduce this so that the potential
benefits can be realized. Table 4.1 summarizes the potential competitive advantages that
effective diversity management offers an organization. The best teams are able to balance
member abilities so that individual skills and approaches complement one another. 7
Diversity can enhance a group’s performance, if a group’s communication pro-
8
cess allows members to integrate their diverse perspectives. McLeod and her associ-
ates explicitly studied the effects of ethnic diversity on a brainstorming task. They
9
compared ethnically homogeneous (all- Anglo American) groups with ethnically
diverse (Anglo, Asian, African, and Hispanic American) groups and found that the

TABLE 4.1
Resource acquisition Companies known for effective diversity management Competitive
develop reputations as desirable places to work, and advantages of
thus can recruit a highly skilled labor pool.
effective diversity
Marketing advantage As markets become diverse, a diverse workforce management
provides increased awareness and competitive
advantage.
System flexibility Appreciation of varying viewpoints produces greater
openness to ideas and helps a company handle
challenges and changes.
Creativity Diverse viewpoints enhance creativity, decision making,
and performance.
Problem solving Diverse viewpoints lead to better decisions because a
wider range of perspectives is considered and issues
are analyzed more thoroughly and critically.
Cost reduction Failure to integrate all workers leads to higher turnover,
absenteeism, and so forth; effective diversity
management saves money.
Source: Information taken from T. H. Cox and S. Blake, “Managing Cultural Diversity: Implications for
Organizational Competitiveness,” Academy of Management Executive, 65 (1991): 45– 56; cited in Susan
Kirby and Orlando C. Richard, “Impact of Marketing Work- Place Diversity on Employee Job Involvement
and Organizational Commitment,” Journal of Social Psychology, 140 (June 2000).

gal37018_ch04_075_108.indd 79 3/28/18 12:34 PM