Chapter TWO

Diversity in
Organizations

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 Learning Objectives

• After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

– Describe the two major forms of workforce diversity.
– Define the key biographical characteristics and
describe how they are relevant to OB.
– Define intellectual ability and demonstrate its
relevance to OB.
– Contrast the two types of ability.
– Describe how organizations manage diversity
effectively.
– Show how culture affects our understanding of
biographical characteristics and intellectual abilities.
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 Diversity Defined
A characteristic of a group of
people where differences exist on one
or more relevant dimensions such as
gender.

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 Common Dimensions
• Gender
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Age
• Religion
• Social Class
• Sexual Orientation
• Personality
• Functional Experience
• Geographical Background
 Quote
“The effects of diversity can result from any
attribute that people use to tell themselves that
another person is different.”
K. Y. Williams and C. A. O’Reilly

Thoughts?
 Diversity
Surface-level diversity

Deep-level diversity

Diversity Management
2-6
 Diversity
Surface-level Diversity:
• Differences in easily perceived characteristics,
such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, or disability,
that do not necessarily reflect the ways people
think or feel but that may activate certain
stereotypes.
Deep-Level Diversity:
• Differences in values, personality, and work
preferences that become progressively more
important for determining similarity as people
get to know one another better.
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 Biographical Characteristics
Biographical Characteristics
Personal characteristics—such as age, gender,
race and tenure—that are objective and easily
obtained from personnel records.

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 Ability, Intellect, and Intelligence
Ability
An individual’s capacity to perform
the various tasks in a job.

Intellectual Ability
The capacity to do mental activities.

Multiple Intelligences
Intelligence contains four subparts:
cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural.

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 Dimensions of
Intellectual Ability

•Number aptitude
•Verbal comprehension
•Perceptual speed
•Inductive reasoning
•Deductive reasoning
•Spatial (occupying space) visualization
•Memory
EXHIBIT
2–1
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 Physical Abilities
Physical Abilities
The capacity to do tasks
demanding stamina, dexterity
(good physical coordination ), strength, and
similar characteristics.

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 Nine Physical Abilities
Strength Factors
1. Dynamic strength
2. Trunk strength
3. Static strength
4. Explosive strength Flexibility Factors
5. Extent flexibility
6. Dynamic flexibility
Other Factors
7. Body coordination
Source: Adapted from
8. Balance HRMagazine published by
the Society for Human
Resource Management,
9. Stamina Alexandria, VA.
EXHIBIT
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 The Ability-Job Fit

Ability-Job
Employee’s Fit Job’s Ability
Abilities Requirements

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 Implementing Diversity Management Strategies

• Making everybody more aware and sensitive

to the needs of others.

Attracting, Selecting, Developing, and

Retaining the Diverse Employees

Working with Diversity in Groups

Effective Diversity Programs

2-15
 Assignment
Write a brief “individual” report mainly addressing
following points on the issue of “Diversity in
Organizations”.
1. How does organizational diversity contribute
to an organization’s competitive advantage?
2. What actions are required to create diversity in
an organization, particularly in one that has
homogeneous membership at present?
3. How does diversity in an organization affect its
strategy?
Questions