The Role of Diversity in Contemporary Global Business Environment

This report discusses the concept of diversity in the business environment, defining it as the presence of variations in characteristics among a group of people, including race, age, gender, cultural background, religion, and sexual orientation. It emphasizes the importance of diversity in the workplace, highlighting how a workforce composed of individuals from different backgrounds can bring internal and external advantages to a business, fostering innovation and supporting organizational objectives. The report uses Marks and Spencer as an example, illustrating how a diverse customer base reflects the importance of cultural values. Furthermore, it outlines several advantages of diversity, such as enhanced business creativity and innovation, a wider talent pool, improved employee performance, reduced conflicts, boosted confidence and morale, a diversified range of ideas, and an enhanced brand image. The report concludes that diversity is essential for creating a positive working atmosphere, meeting organizational targets, and strengthening a company's competitive position within the industry. Desklib provides access to this and other solved assignments.

CONTEMPORARY
SOCIETY IN GLOBAL
WORLD

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................3
TASK.........................................................................................................................................3
Diversity in business environment.........................................................................................3
Advantage of diversity in business environment...................................................................4
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Diversity is the term which define the existence of variations of different
characteristics in a group of people. These characteristics make people unique and different in
their own way and these characteristics can be based on race, age, gender, cultural
background, religion and sexual orientation (Gomez, and Bernet, 2019). Diversity in
workplace refers to different range of diverse individuals working altogether in an
organization. This report will discuss regarding the concepts of diversity in business
environment. The project will also outline the advantages of diversity in business
environment.
TASK
Diversity in business environment
Diversity is the concept which encompasses acceptance and respect. Diversity is the
understanding of individual which is unique and individual differences. Diversity is the
differences which can be based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic
status, age, physical abilities, beliefs and other ideologies.
Diversity in workplace is the term which is used to define the workforce of an
organization where employees from different backgrounds and cultures are employed by an
organization which can bring diversity in the working scenario of an organization. Diversity
in workplace can bring various internal and external advantages for business due to
diversified range of employees through which innovative approaches and strategies can be
implemented which can support in development of organization and supports in meeting
organizational objectives. Diversity plays a vital role in working culture of organization as
this can bring various benefits and drive innovation in the organization (Caiazza and Volpe,
2015). Diversity in workplace can be helpful in fostering open communication where ideas
can be generated that can support in achieving organizational objectives and enhancing the
brand image of organization within the industry. Diversity in workplace is closely related to
discrimination.
For example, Marks and Spencer is operating in many countries all around the world
and have diversified range of employees through which they bring diversity in their working
culture. Marks and Spencer reflect diversity through their diverse customer base which

defines the importance of cultural values which are focused by the rand and supports in
meeting the customer demands.
Advantage of diversity in business environment
Diversity in business environment can drive various advantages for an organization
which can support them in maintain the organizational culture and achieving the planned
organizational objectives (Goethe and Colina, 2018). Some of the advantages in case Marks
and Spencer are discussed below:
Source: Created by Self
 Enhances business creativity and innovation- Diversity in the organization or
business environment can be helpful in brining creativity and innovation to the
organization as distinct people work under one roof where they all can share their
opinions and ideas and the most creative approach or strategy can be used for
ensuring development of the organization (Morgan, 2019). In case of marks and
spencer, the company focuses on encouraging employees to participate in decision
Advantage of
diversity in
business
environment
Enhances
business
creativity
and
innovation
Wider talent
pool
Supports in
better
employee
performance
Reduce
conflicts
within
organization
Boosts
confidence
and morale
Diversified
range of
ideas
Enhance
business
goodwill and
brand image

making and other activities of business in which they can share their innovative ides
that can bring profitability and progress to the organization.
 Wider talent pool- Diversity can bring opportunity of wider talent pool where
individual from various regions can apply for job in the organization and this supports
business to select the most desirable candidate form huge number of candidates which
can bring its own charm and their own ideas to the business. Such practices can be
helpful in enhancing and maintaining their competitive position within the industry.
 Supports in better employee performance- Diversity in workplace can enhance
employee performance as employees can learn from each other and this will be
helpful in enhancing their skills, knowledge and competencies through which their
ability to perform all managerial task can be met.
 Reduce conflicts within organization- Diversity in workplace can be helpful in
reducing the conflicts in workplace as individuals from different background
collectively work and share their ideas and opinions through which they can build
strong interpersonal relations which will be helpful in maintaining positive working
scenario in the organization (Huynh and Patton, 2018). In case of marks and spencer,
the company have diversified workforce which supports in maintaining the positive
and healthy working scenario where conflicts can be easily resolved and more
productivity can be maintained.
 Boosts confidence and morale- Diversity in workplace helps in sharing knowledge,
ideas and opinions and supports in communicating with each other where an
individual can share their own opinions and understand others perspective. Such
practices are helpful in boosting employee morale and the level of confidence where
they can effectively perform in the organization as they can feel that their ideas and
opinions are valued by the company.
 Diversified range of ideas- Diversity can support in bringing differentiated range of
ideas in the organization as an organization can hire people who belong to different
culture, different gender religion or other factors which can make them unique and
different from others (Amegashie, 2018). Such factors of diversity can bring different
ideas where employees can share their opinions in the organization and can use
innovative approaches that can support them in making progress towards the
achievement of the objectives.
 Enhance business goodwill and brand image- Diversity can be helpful in enhancing
the brand image and goodwill of an organization as this will support business in

brining innovation through which they can attract customer attention. In case of marks
and spencer, the brand can gain various advantages from diversity within the
workplace as this can be helpful in using various innovative ideas and approaches of
their employees through which they can enhance the organizational performance and
productivity which will be supportive in enhancing the goodwill of the company.
CONCLUSION
From the above information, it can be concluded that diversity is the term which is
used to define the differences and unique characteristics of people which makes them distant
from others. Diversity in workplace holds a significant value and importance which can be
seen in positive working atmosphere though which organization can meet their targets.
Diversity in workplace can bring support organization in generating different ideas and
approaches through which they can enhance their goodwill and strengthen their competitive
position within the industry. It can be seen that diversity in workplace represents the equality
and fair behavior to all human resource in the organization which can spread positive words
and judgment for the organization and this will be helpful in ensuring business success.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Gomez, L. E. and Bernet, P., 2019. Diversity improves performance and outcomes. Journal
of the National Medical Association. 111(4). pp.383-392.
Caiazza, R. and Volpe, T., 2015. Interaction despite of diversity: is it possible?. Journal of
Management Development.
Goethe, E. V. and Colina, C. M., 2018. Taking advantage of diversity within the
classroom. Journal of Chemical Education. 95(2). pp.189-192.
Morgan, J. D., 2019. Harnessing the Diversity of Ideas for Competitive
Advantage. INSIGHT. 22(3). pp.21-25.
Huynh, T. and Patton, D., 2018, July. The Role of Gender Diversity in A Model of the
Dynamic Capabilities of Management Teams, SME’s Competitive Advantage and
Performance. In International Conference on Current Issues of Social Sciences and
Business.
Amegashie, A. R., 2018. Diversity management program strategies to support competitive
advantage and sustainable growth (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).