Table 12-3 Approaches to Organizational Diversity
Approach How Diversity Would Be Considered
Classical Because diversity would limit the homogeneity of The workforce and hence be distracting or detrimental to Morale, diversity would be strongly discouraged.
Human Relations Diversity would be neither encouraged nor discouraged. Emphasis would be placed on meeting the needs of women and ethnic minorities, ever if those needs diverged from those of majority employees.
Human Resources Diversity would be encouraged because increased creativity and new ideas would increase the competitive advantage of the organization. Emphasis would be placed on maximizing the potential of women and minorities to contribute to the goals of the organization.
Systems Diversity would be seen as one important avenue for the Organization to adapt effectively to a turbulent global environment. Systems scholars might address the Integration of women and minorities into formal and informal communication networks.
Cultural Diverse organizations would be seen as important places where organizational culture intersects with national, ethnic, and gender-based culture. Emphasis would be placed on the process through which the intersection of cultural values is negotiated through communicative interaction.
Critical Diverse organizations would be seen as the arena in which subjugated groups (e.g., women and people of color) must deal with the dominant class. Emphasis would be placed on the ways in which interaction among members of various cultures serves to perpetuate hegemonic relationships.