Ethics Information

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Diversity And Success, In The Workplace


This article relates to the Diversity in the Workplace Competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. This competency explores whether your organization provides understanding and supports interaction among diverse population groups while respecting individuals' personal values and ideas. Research shows that by fostering a climate where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic, an organization can create a success-oriented, cooperative and caring work environment that draws intellectual strength and produces innovative solutions from the synergy of its people.

All businesses can benefit from a diverse body of talent bringing fresh ideas, perspectives, and views to the workplace. However, a diverse workforce means that the managers within your organization must be capable of capitalizing on the mixture of genders, cultural backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles present in your staff to respond to business opportunities more rapidly and creatively.

This short story, Diversity----and Success, in the Workplace, is part of AlphaMeasure's Compilation, Tales from the Corporate Frontlines. It illustrates how one manager recognized and used a diverse team to achieve the best possible work product for the company, and win new business as well.

Anonymous Submission

It was a project unlike any our small ad agency had ever undertaken. A new client, selling a completely different product than we usually worked with. And our team had been awarded the opportunity to develop the perfect campaign and win the continued business of this new client. We all looked at our project manager, who was with us now for six whole months, like he had lost his mind. Why not team A? They had twice the experience and were always the group chosen to woo new clients with their work. Surely they were a safer choice. Why risk the client on us?

Our project manager patiently explained that out team had the required diversity for this project. If ever a project demanded workforce diversity---this was it. We looked around at each other, sure enough, we referred to ourselves as the "odds and ends" we were all so different. Our writers and designers represented a mixture of newbie talent, on fire with ambition, more mature people on their second careers, and new hires who earned their stripes far away, in big city agencies. We worked okay together, but our projects so far were small cast offs from the senior teams.

Yes, the project manager continued, this campaign required a diversity that the more entrenched teams lacked. More of our members represented the target demographic, and the deadline demanded quick turnaround. That was one of the reasons our company had landed the project. Times were tight and potential long-term clients were nothing to sneeze at. He was confident that if we pulled together, we'd achieve the best possible outcome for everyone--- a brilliant campaign that would lure the new client onto our roster forever.

Still thinking that he was crazy, we began our work. The entire process was amazing. Our brainstorming sessions produced several great concepts that we developed eagerly. The newbies provided smart, stylish slogans, while the latecomers worked overtime to combine them with vibrant design. Our client loved it. So much so that our firm was awarded three more projects with the expectation that our team would do the required work.

Yes, our project manager was crazy. Crazy enough to go against the usual procedure and capitalize on the workforce diversity of our team to the benefit of the company. We succeeded ---with his guidance, of course.

© 2005 AlphaMeasure, Inc. - All Rights Reserved

This article may be reprinted, provided it is published in its entirety, includes the author bio information, and all links remain active.

Measure. Report. Improve your organization with AlphaMeasure employee surveys.

Josh Greenberg is President of AlphaMeasure, Inc.

AlphaMeasure provides organizations of all sizes a powerful web based method for measuring employee satisfaction, determining employee engagement, and increasing employee retention.

Launch your employee surveys with AlphaMeasure.


MORE RESOURCES:

CBS News

Character and ethics issues come to the fore
Boston Globe, United States - Oct 6, 2008
The response: McCain and his campaign note that the Senate Ethics Committee issued only a mild reprimand for "poor judgment. ...
Senate ethics panel cites Cranston in Keating Five case Chicago Tribune
In Keating, Ethics Committee primarily went after Cranston Conservative Pulse
Net Watch An Online Shadow From the ’80s New York Times
Washington Post - The Associated Press
all 448 news articles


Ethics panel will call 16 to testify
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 4 hours ago
By Robert Gehrke The House Ethics Committee is subpoenaing 16 people, including a dozen current and former legislators, to testify regarding allegations ...
Ethics Hearings Closed to Public, No Exceptions KCPW
Ethics battle spills into Davis County Davis County Clipper
Former representative says lawmaker 'stabbed ethics reform group ... KSL-TV
Deseret News - Salt Lake Tribune
all 7 news articles


Levy aides ask ethics panel to look at former deputy
Newsday, NY - 3 hours ago
BY RICK BRAND | rick.brand@newsday.com Administrative officials of Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy asked the county ethics commission to determine if ...
LETTERS Newsday
all 2 news articles


Sen. Madrigal seeks ethics probe vs Villar
GMA news.tv, Philippines - 3 hours ago
Ma Ana Consuelo Madrigal on Wednesday asked the Senate ethics committee to investigate Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. in connection with the “road to ...
Madrigal files ethics case vs Villar Inquirer.net
all 3 news articles


Premier wants wide scope for ethics watchdog
ABC Online, Australia - 5 hours ago
The Premier David Bartlett has outlined his vision for a Tasmanian ethics commission or anti-corruption body to a parliamentary committee. ...
Small state needs anti-corruption body: Witness ABC Online
all 4 news articles


Editorial: City Ethics
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - 3 hours ago
So much for the nine-member panel undertaking merely a wonkish examination of city ethics policies and the inner workings of Philadelphia's campaign-finance ...
Nutter dodges some Goode questions during ethics-reform news ... Philadelphia Daily News
Nutter, Verna Mum On Goode-Aide Issue Evening Bulletin
Goode's aide still talk of the Hall Philadelphia Metro
MyFox Philadelphia - PolitickerPA
all 13 news articles


A de-ethics pill?
InfoWorld, CA - 6 hours ago
I know that there were many letters and viewpoints on ethics in the past, but I have a (hopefully) simple question. No more debate about good and evil or ...


Questions still remain over ethics revisions
Daily Illini, IL - 4 hours ago
While all state universities must abide by the State Officials and Employers Ethics Act, the University is the only one that elicited a strong response from ...
U. of I. backs off ban on all politicking Chicago Sun-Times
UI president clarifies stance on employees' political activity Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette
White clarifies ethics rules Daily Illini
Daily Illini - Daily Illini
all 11 news articles


Times Online

Barbara Berlusconi; ethics girl
Times Online, UK - 13 hours ago
While the scene has the trappings of a celebrity circus, the 24-year-old has, in fact, just attended a debate on “the role of business ethics in economic ...


Ethics panel says some perks allowed by Amendment 41
Rocky Mountain News, CO - 4 hours ago
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact) Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission has determined that scholarships, insurance policies and dinners with ...
Finally, state employees get answers on gift ban Denver Post
all 3 news articles

Ethics - Google News

home | site map
Web Site Development - Search Engine Marketing: Dream Team Media