In a multicultural nation such as the United States, one would assume that the concept of diversity would have a clear definition; but the definition of diversity differs from person to person, from organization to organization, and from author to author. In some organizations, diversity is strictly focused upon race, gender, religion, and disability status; in other organizations, the concept of diversity is extended to sexual orientation, body image, and socioeconomic status.
In this section we will discuss various models that explain diversity; and the benefits of diversity. Workplace diversity can make American companies more productive and profitable. They also bring differences that we must understand and embrace for those benefits to be realized. Many companies such as Coca-Cola, and other organizations are leveraging diversity to tap into underserved markets and customers. For example, Coca-Cola has used its diversity to develop a market in the Hispanic community for one of its new soft drinks.
Benefits of Workplace Diversity – An organization’s success and competitiveness depends upon its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as: * Increased adaptability – Organizations employing a diverse workforce can supply a greater variety of solutions to problems in service, sourcing, and allocation of resources.
Employees from diverse backgrounds bring individual talents and experiences in suggesting ideas that are flexible in adapting to fluctuating markets and customer demands. * Broader service range – A diverse collection of skills and experiences (e. g. languages, cultural understanding) allows a company to provide service to customers on a global basis. * Variety of viewpoints – A diverse workforce that feels comfortable communicating varying points of view provides a larger pool of ideas and experiences.
The organization can draw from that pool to meet business strategy needs and the needs of customers more effectively. * More effective execution – Companies that encourage workplace diversity inspire all of their employees to perform to their highest ability. Company-wide strategies can then are executed; resulting in higher productivity, profit, and return on investment. What happen after Lawsuit? The settlement was modeled after a 1996 agreement involving Texaco Inc. , which paid $176 million–previously the largest discrimination award–to end a similar suit by its black employees.
Coke Chairman Douglas Daft called the deal “meaningful, constructive and equitable to all parties. ” “It comes from the belief that we need to lead, not just comply, on such issues,” he said in a conference call with reporters. “It will be a process that continues forever. ” The class-action suit had embarrassed senior Coke executives, worsened employee morale and created a public relations nightmare for the Atlanta-based company. Black workers contended that they were paid less and had fewer opportunities to advance than white employees.
Few of the company’s black managers, according to the suit, reached the highest salary levels. They were mainly relegated to low-profile divisions such as human resources and corporate affairs, which lack the power and advancement potential of white-dominated divisions such as global marketing or finance. Internal memos released from the case suggested that some executives who attempted to improve diversity were frustrated by senior management, including former Chairman M.
Douglas Investor, who retired earlier this year. In 2000, Coca-Cola agreed to a $192 million settlement, the largest settlement ever in a corporate racial discrimination case. In the settlement agreement, Coca-Cola denied the allegations, but agreed to make sweeping changes to its personnel policies and procedures. In addition, the settlement gave an outside panel, jointly selected by Coca-Cola and the plaintiffs’ lawyers and approved by the court, limited authority to revise the company’s personnel policy.
This panel, the Task Force, served as a watchdog for five years and was charged with evaluating Coca-Cola’s compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement. The Task Force issued its final report in December 2006, finding that it’s “mission has been a success” and that the company had “made significant progress. ” Parker’s Triangle Parker’s triangle provide the accurate assumption on The emotional connection of Distinguishing differences and conflict to understand why so many minority employees joined the class action lawsuit and how coca-cola failed to manage diversity.
Reasons for Joining Class action lawsuit are, “Minority employees felt difference in benefits between them and white co-workers”. Because of this they feel discomfort at workplace, higher authority hate them and so on. Because of this and overlook their problems and benefits by higher authority the minority group join the class action lawsuit. By overlooking the minority employee’s emotion and right, change is required at equal opportunity to all employees not for only white people for higher position.
At the end coca-cola recognize their mistakes and taking steps in the new market with equal rights and opportunity for all employees. After this learning experience now coca-cola is …. Best Companies for Diversity Black Enterprise magazine ranks Coca-Cola among the top 40 best companies for diversity for 6th consecutive year.
References
* http://webcache. googleusercontent. com/search? q=cache:jYCAT6D10FIJ:www. diversityworking. com/employerZone/diversityManagement/%3Fid%3D9+the+benefits+of+diversity+in+the+workplace&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us * http://webcache. oogleusercontent. com/search? q=cache:jDnkYRs7GgwJ:www. ethnoconnect. com/html/articles_09. html+the+benefits+of+diversity+in+the+workplace&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us * http://webcache. googleusercontent. com/search? q=cache:drIWQ_u7JwIJ:www. linkedin. com/pub/christopher-horace/7/86b/b72+strategic+benefits+of+diversity+for+coca+cola+company&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us * http://dwashingtonllc. com/images/pdf/publications/the_concept_of_diversity. pdf * http://www. thecoca-colacompany. com/ourcompany/awards_recognition. html
