The Importance of Understanding Cultural, Ethnic, and Gender Differences by Managers and Professionals in a Business Setting
Diversity in the American workplace is very important but corporate culture in this country works against women and minorities to a certain extent (Tannen, 1995). The conversational styles that most women use tend to be less popular with businesses and corporations than the conversational styles that men use. Because of this, women are often overlooked for promotions, are seen as less confident, and are not considered as worthwhile when it comes to individuals giving their ideas and helping out with teamwork. Much of this comes from childhood when little girls were taught to be nice to other individuals and help to downplay their weaknesses, while little boys were taught to play up the weaknesses of other individuals and claim strength and domination if they were able (Tannen, 1995; Adams & Galanges, 2005). Individuals who come from one part of the country to another also face this and some men who lack a great deal of self-confidence and are not willing to speak up are also treated as though they are weak. Because of this, many women are overlooked for promotions and other issues in which they are extremely well-qualified but it is not believed that they are confident enough to do the job due to the fact that they do not s
Sometimes, this conflict cannot be avoided, but it can work to an organization's advantage in certain circumstances, and is often desired as a basis for making decisions. Society is made up of many different kinds of people, so a good group will be comprised of the same. While this makes for a great deal of diversity in suggestions and decisions, it also makes for a great deal of conflict because cultures and ideas often collide (Pelled, Eisenhardt, & Xin, 1999; Adams & Galanges, 2005). First, there is conflict about the task at hand. Second, there will be emotional conflict related to the task. The goal is to get the right mix of ideas, attitudes, and opinions so that individuals can agree to disagree but still go on to get the job done. Looking at a problem from several different angles and viewpoints is the ultimate goal of group work and group decision-making. This dislike of others in the group (or possibly one specific person in the group) often comes about for the same reasons that task conflict appears. However, allowing the proposed members of the group to be present at an interview for a new person can help alleviate some of the conflict that might come up later (Adams & Galanges, 2005; Jehn, Northcraft, & Neale, 1999). Women are not the only ones having difficulty, however. Conflict has a lot to do with how diverse work groups have become over recent years. People all have different ideas of how things should be done, and when those ideas clash on a particular project, conflict is born. Conflict is common within many organizations, and the larger they are the more potential they have for conflict. Conflict can be very important, because it helps to define the kinds of problems that outsiders might have with a particular decision that the company or organization might make. Not all members of a diverse group will agree on a task because it will seem to some that there is either a better way to go about it, or it does not need to be done at all.
Common topics in this essay:
Adams Galanges,
Michard Viollet,
Diversity American,
Northcraft Neale,
adams galanges,
pelled et al,
Eisenhardt Xin,
adams galanges 2005,
et al 1999,
al 1999,
et al,
galanges 2005,
pelled et,
differing backgrounds,
conversational styles,
particular person,
conversational styles women,
overlooked promotions,
styles women,
women overlooked promotions,
|
Acceptance Essays
