Assignment on Analysis of Diversity Program

ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
Name of student
Name of university
Author’s note:

1ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
Abstract
Workplace diversity is one of the most important organizational strategies that organizations
need to consider for knowledge sharing and creating a productive workplace environment for
its employees. Costco Wholesale Corporation employs people from around the world and
only criteria for employment is knowledge and skills, making it one of the few companies
that not only ensures diversity in workplace, but also provides equal opportunities to all of its
employees irrespective of their nationality, cast, gender, colour, places, political preferences
and other aspects that lead to biasness in workplace as well. Along with that, it also values
economic enhancement of women and people belonging to minority communities. Therefore,
they have designed supplier diversity program which provides preference to business owned
by women and minority communities for providing economic assistance to these people. It
also allows Costco Wholesale Corporation to obtain innovative ideas for enhancing quality
and performance of supply chain of this organization as well.

2ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
Introduction
Costco Wholesale Corporation commercially known as Costco is one of the largest
retailers in the world with its main competitor being Walmart, the largest retail chain in the
world. Costco which is an American MNC owns chain of warehouse clubs which are only
available for its members. Therefore it operates as a membership only mode and offers a wide
range of products according to consumer needs. In this report, diversity program of this
organization is analysed in details and it provides a comprehensive idea regarding how these
diversity programs are being implemented, its effect on organizational strategies and its
benefits to the organization as well. Two diversity programs are considered in this report.
One is diversity in its workplace and another one is diversity of its supply chain. While
analysing these diversity programs, overview of each diversity program is provided along
with benefits of each of these diversity programs as well. This will ensure that analysis of
diversity program of this organization is effective and efficient as well.
Overview of diversity programs
Diversity at workplace
Overview of this diversity program
Diversity in workplace is one of the most significant aspect of organizational culture
of Costco Wholesale and employees of this organization are from different culture and
background which makes their workforce diverse as well. This diversity in workforce is
provided through employment data of this organization provided in this context.

3ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
JOB
CATE
GORI
ES
HISPA
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OR
LATIN
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NOT-HISPANIC OR LATINO OVERALL
TOTALS
MALE FEMALE
M
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BLAC
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AFRIC
AN
AMER
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NATIVE
HAWAII
AN OR
PACIFIC
ISLAND
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AMERI
CAN
INDIAN
OR
ALASK
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NATIVE
TW
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OR
MO
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W
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BLAC
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AFRIC
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NATIVE
HAWAII
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PACIFIC
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AMERI
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NDIAN
OR
LASKA
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MO
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RAC
ES

4ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
EXEC
UTIVE
/SR
OFFICI
ALS &
MGRS
4 0 3
1
0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 38
FIRST/
MID
OFFICI
ALS &
MGRS
1
6
3
3
7
6
4
5
4
0
9
645 47 5
2
3
45 117 2
4
5
9
358 44 2
7
7
28 65 12414
PROFE
SSION
ALS
1
5
5
2
5
5
1
4
3
8
75 10 3
8
0
10 43 1
8
6
7
134 16 5
7
2
12 56 5023
TECH
NICIA
NS
4
0
3
8
9
4
1
5
0
0
138 20 4
9
2
12 55 2
7
9
1
284 35 6
6
8
27 96 7415
SALES
WORK
ERS
4
5
2
1
5
2
5
5
9
1
6
5
1814 162 1
2
5
8
94 411 1
0
1
4
2
2067 208 1
2
1
2
118 449 36876
ADMI
NISTR
ATIVE
SUPPO
RT
6
0
4
9
8
6
1
5
7
1
217 22 2
4
7
5 58 2
9
9
1
344 22 3
3
2
28 95 7522

5ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
CRAF
T
WORK
ERS
1
5
3
1 3
7
4
33 3 2
6
2 5 1
1
0 1 2 0 0 611
OPER
ATIVE
S
7
0
6
3
2
2
8
5
8
7
3
5
2120 246 1
4
4
1
99 439 2
7
7
1
384 84 5
1
2
40 136 26355
LABO
RERS
&
HELPE
RS
7
3
4
8
5
9
5
3
1
2
6
9
5
3233 353 1
8
0
1
161 909 9
2
1
0
1712 243 1
1
9
3
111 588 45510
SERVI
CE
WORK
ERS
3
4
7
6
3
6
6
9
4
7
6
4
1187 121 8
5
8
55 355 4
4
4
3
852 147 8
3
7
59 274 21097
TOTA
L
2
5
3
6
0
2
0
0
6
2
4
5
6
8
2
9462 984 7
0
2
7
483 2392 3
6
6
8
7
6135 800 5
6
0
5
423 1759 162861
PREVI
OUS
REPO
RT
TOTA
L
2
3
5
1
3
1
8
1
6
6
4
3
1
8
6
8971 877 6
4
6
8
452 2064 3
4
7
1
6
5776 693 5
1
2
1
384 1526 151913
Source: https://mobilecontent.costco.com/live/resource/img/static-us-landing-pages/2018-
Certified-Consolidated-EEO-1-Report.pdf.

6ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
The mission of this diversity program is to ensure that employees are selected
according to their skills and knowledge. If an employee is deserving and capable of providing
skills and knowledge that organization requires for its job roles, then their background,
culture, cast, sex, race, colour, political views and other aspects should not have no impact on
their employment. Not only employment, these factors other than performance of employees
should not affect promotion and salary provided to employees (Mobilecontent.costco.com,
2020). The organization ensures that salary provided to employees are not decided according
to their gender. Therefore equal opportunities and equal salaries are two of the main aspects
of this diversity program.
Benefits of this diversity program
When organization promotes diversity in its workplace then it provides various
benefits not only for employees, but for the organization as well (Ravazzani, 2016)). As
Costco Wholesale Corporation selects its employees only because of their knowledge and
skills, it is possible for them to identify best talent who are capable of ensuing organizational
success. When employees identify that it is only their performance that is important to obtain
promotion then it motivates them to provide their best performance. It is not possible for
organizations to obtain best of their employees if they are not motivated enough to provide
their best for the company. According to the officials of Costco Wholesale Corporation,
diversity in their workplace provides employees working environment where they feel that
they are part of the company and this has been one of the most important aspects for success
of Costco Wholesale Corporation as an organization. This also helps in enhanced
coordination between employees and provides context for knowledge sharing. It is also
explained by the officials of this organization that organizational success is not about
designing effective organizational strategies but it depends on how these strategies are
executed and this is where skills of employees are so important because these strategies are

7ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
executed by employees (Page, 2019)). When organization provides less importance to
employee background and emphasis on employee skills and knowledge, it helps them
recruiting best talent and ensure organizational success as well.
Equal opportunity for employment and promotion in job roles not only attract best
talent but also retain then as well. Therefore, Costco Wholesale Corporation provides
importance to workplace diversity and ensure that equal opportunities are provided to each
and every employees for ensuing that workforce of this organization is effective and efficient
as well.
Diversity in supply chain
Overview of this diversity program
In order to ensure diversity in their supply chain, the organization has implemented a
supply chain program which allows suppliers owned by local minorities and women,
qualified enough according to organizational standards for selection of its suppliers. Mission
of this organization is to diversify its supply chain and provides opportunities to suppliers
who deserve it. Therefore, when feasible, Costco Wholesale Corporation provides
opportunities to local suppliers which are owned by local minorities and women in
communities where this organization do its business.
However, there are some criteria that suppliers need to ensure while applying for this
supplier diversity program designed by Costco Wholesale Corporation. These criteria are the
followings:
 In order to be considered for this program, it is must that business is owned someone
who belongs to minority community. There is definition of minority owned business
that is followed by Costco Wholesale Corporation. According to this definition, a
minority owned business include proprietorship, partnership, and corporation along

8ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
with joint venture as well. in case of joint venture, it is important to ensure that
minimum 51% of this business is owned and also controlled by citizens of United
States and they need to belong to any of these racial groups and these groups are the
followings:
o African American
o Asian Indian
o Asian Pacific
o Hispanic
o Native Americans
 In case of business owned by women, it is important to ensure that these businesses
are not only owned by women, it needs to be operated and also controlled by one or
more than one women who are citizens of United States and these criteria are
important for being considered for this supplier diversity program of Costco
Wholesale Corporation
 Business needs to be registered with agency that is owned by minority or women
However, there are some business which are not considered for this program and these
businesses are the followings:
 IT Services/Telecommunications/Connectivity
 Consulting
 Market Research
 Logistics

9ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
 Printing Services
 Event Planning
 Background Screening
 Construction/Roofing/Painting
 Training
 Books
Benefits of this diversity program
Supply chain is an extremely innovative aspect of retail business and therefore
innovation is required for enhancing quality of supply chain (Kusi-Sarpong et al., 2019).
According to Costco Wholesale Corporation, diversity in supply chain is important for the
organization. These minority or women owned business often provides context for exploring
new ideas for supply chain strategies. These ideas according to Costco Wholesale
Corporation helps in maintaining fresh approach for the business. In retail business it is
important to ensure that innovative approaches are not only identified but it is also required to
apply these approaches for innovating supply chain strategies which is important to ensure
success in retail business as well (Ayers & Odegaard, 2017). However, this supplier diversity
program not only benefits Costco Wholesale Corporation, but it also helps in enhancing
economic conditions of communities where it does its business. This program allows
minorities and women to implement their business ideas and also provides facilities for
ensuing success in these businesses as well (Salam et al., 2016). Therefore, this supplier
diversity program is beneficial for Costco Wholesale Corporation to innovate in supply chain
strategies while enhancing economic conditions of people as well.

10ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
Conclusion
Diversity in workplace has allowed Costco Wholesale Corporation in employing
people who have required skills and knowledge required for executing organizational
strategies. Diversity in workplace has also provided context to provide equal opportunities to
employees without any bias and this motivates employees required for enhancing their
performance as well.
Supplier diversity program applied by this organization provides opportunities to
business owned by minorities and women from local community. This helps Costco
Wholesale Corporation in obtaining new and innovative ideas for enhancing quality of their
supply chain and it also allows them to enhance economic condition of people through this
supplier diversity program of this organization as well.

11ANALYSIS OF DIVERSITY PROGRAM
References
Ayers, J. B., & Odegaard, M. A. (2017). Retail supply chain management. CRC Press.
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315151410
Kusi-Sarpong, S., Gupta, H., & Sarkis, J. (2019). A supply chain sustainability innovation
framework and evaluation methodology. International Journal of Production
Research, 57(7), 1990-2008.
https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/files/11737630/KUSI_SARPONG_2018_crigh
t_IJPR_A_supply_chain_sustainability_innovation_framework_and_evaluation_meth
odology.pdf
Mobilecontent.costco.com. (2020). https://mobilecontent.costco.com/live/resource/img/static-
us-landing-pages/2018-Certified-Consolidated-EEO-1-Report.pdf.
Page, S. E. (2019). The diversity bonus: How great teams pay off in the knowledge economy.
Princeton University Press.
Ravazzani, S. (2016). Understanding approaches to managing diversity in the
workplace. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.
https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-08-2014-0062
Salam, A., Panahifar, F., & Byrne, P. J. (2016). Retail supply chain service levels: the role of
inventory storage. Journal of Enterprise Information Management.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-01-2015-0008