Skip to main content

Different Approaches to Managing a Diverse Workforce

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Critical Studies in Diversity Management Literature

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Psychology ((BRIEFSPSYCHOL))

Abstract

Different organizational approaches to diversity reflecting distinct rationales for engaging in diversity interventions can be identified in the extant literature. Diversity management emerged as an organizational endeavour to substantially move beyond legally imposed organizational policies, such as equal employment opportunities and affirmative action: the voluntary nature of the former was thus opposed to the legally enforced character of the latter. Diversity management begun to dominate the organizational field particularly under the form of the business case for diversity, which related diverse workforces to a strong competitive business advantage. Far from being unquestioned, the business case involves not only promises, but also certain deficiencies insofar as it appears to be subject to serious limitations, fact that has triggered so much criticism and raised serious doubts on a set of controversial issues, among the scholarly community of diversity researchers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arnold, J. (1997). Managing careers into the 21 st century. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, G. S. (1971). The economics of discrimination (2nd ed.). Chicago: Chicago University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Billing, Y. D., & Sundin, E. (2006). From managing equality to managing diversity: A critical Scandinavian perspective on gender and workplace diversity. In A. M. Konrad, P. Prasad, & J. K. Pringle (Eds.), Handbook of workplace diversity (pp. 95–119). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnevale, A., & Stone, G. (1994). Diversity beyond the golden rule. Training and Development, 48(10), 22–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, D. (2004). Challenging diversity. Rethinking equality and the value of difference. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • De Anca, C., & Vazquez, A. (2007). Managing diversity in the global organization. Creating new business values. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dick, P., & Cassell, C. (2002). Barriers to managing diversity in a UK constabulary: The role of discourse. Journal of Management Studies, 39(7), 953–976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickens, L. (1999). Beyond the business-case: A three-pronged approach to equality action. Human Resource Management Journal, 9(1), 9–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickens, L. (2000). Still wasting resources? Equality in employment. In S. Back & K. Sisson (Eds.), Personnel management (3rd ed., pp. 137–169). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esmail, A., Kaira, V., & Abel, P. (2005). A critical review of leadership interventions aimed at people from black and minority ethnic groups. Manchester: University of Manchester.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission, Implementation checklist for diversity management. Support for voluntary initiatives promoting diversity management at the workplace across the EU. (http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/files/checklist_diversitymanagement_en.pdf. Accessed 18 June 2013.

  • Ford, V. (1996). Partnership is the secret of progress. People Management, 2(3), 34–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster-Curtis, E., & Dreachslin, J. L. (2008). Integrative literature review. Diversity management interventions and organizational performance: A synthesis of current literature. Human Resource Development Review, 7(1), 107–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gotsis, G., & Kortezi, Z. (2013). Ethical paradigms as potential foundations of diversity management initiatives in business organizations. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 26(6), 948–975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphries, J., & Rubery, J. (Eds.). (1995). The economics of equal opportunities. Manchester: EOC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, N., Green, A., & Powell, M. (2012). Diversity in the British NHS: The business versus the ‘moral’ case. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 31(8), 768–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsen, K., Maznevski, M. L., & Schneider, S. C. (2011). Diversity and its not so diverse literature: An international perspective. International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 10(1), 35–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsen, K., Tatli, A., Özbilgin, M. F., & Bell, M. P. (2013). The tragedy of the uncommons: Reframing workforce diversity. Human Relations, 66(2), 271–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirton, G., & Green, A. M. (2009). The costs and opportunities of doing diversity work in mainstream organizations. Human Resource Management Journal, 19(2), 159–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kossek, E. E. & Lobel, S. A. (1996). Managing diversity: Human resource strategies for transforming the workplace. Cambridge: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kossek, E. E., & Pichler, S. (2006). EEO and the management of diversity. In P. Boxell., J. Purchell, & P. O. Wright (Ed.),Handbook of human resource management (pp. 251–272). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kossek, E. E., Lobel, S. A., & Brown, J. (2006). Human resource strategies to manage workforce diversity: Examining the business case. In A. M. Konrad, P. Prasad, & J. K. Pringle (Eds.), Handbook of workplace diversity (pp. 53–74). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liff, S. (1997).Two routes to managing diversity: Individual differences or social group characteristics. Employee Relations 19(1), 11–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litvin, D. R. (2006). Diversity: Making space for a better case. In A. M. Konrad, P. Prasad, & J. K. Pringle (Eds.), Handbook of workplace diversity (pp. 75–94). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, G., Blair, S., & McDougall, M. (2001). Edging towards managing diversity in practice. Employee Relations, 23(5), 210–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, M., Lumby, J., & Sood, K. (2006). Diversity and diversity management: Messages from recent research. Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 34(3), 277–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nkomo, S., & Hoobler, J. M. (2014). A historical perspective on diversity ideologies in the United States: Reflections on human resource management research and practice. Human Resource Management Review, 24(3), 245–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noon, M. (2007). The fatal flaws of diversity and the business case for ethnic minorities. Work, Employment and Society, 21(4), 773–784.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozbilgin, M. F., & Tatli, A. (2008). Global diversity management. An evidence-based approach. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitts, D. W., & Wise, L. R. (2010). Workforce diversity in the new millennium: Prospects for research. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 30(1), 44–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podsiadlowski, A., Gröschke, D., Kogler, M., Springer, C. and van der Zee, K. (2013). Managing a culturally diverse workforce: Diversity perspectives in organizations. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 37(2), 159–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, P., & Mills, A. J. (1997). From showcase to shadow: Understanding the dilemmas of managing workplace diversity. In P. Prasad, A. J. Mills, M. B. Elmes, & A. Prasad (Eds.), Managing the organizational melting pot: Dilemmas of workplace diversity (pp. 3–30). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, P., Pringle, J. K., & Konrad, A. M. (2006). Examining the contours of workplace diversity: Concepts, contexts and challenges. In A. M. Konrad, P. Prasad, & J. K. Pringle (Eds.), Handbook of workplace diversity (pp. 1–22). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Garcia, D. (2010). Beyond assimilation and multiculturalism: A critical review of the debate on managing diversity. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 11(3), 251–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seymen, O. A. (2006). The cultural diversity phenomenon in organizations and different approaches for effective diversity management: A literary review. Cross-Cultural Management. An International Journal, 13(4), 296–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen, J., Chanda, A., D’Netto, B., & Monga, M. (2009). Managing diversity through human resource management: An international perspective and conceptual framework. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(2), 235–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, V. (2008). Diversity management practices in leading edge firms. In R. J. Burke & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Building more effective organizations: HR management and performance in practice (pp. 252–277). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Syed, J., & Ozbilgin, M. (2009). A relational framework for international transfer of diversity management practices. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(12), 2435–2453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatli, A. (2011). A multi-layered exploration of the diversity management field: Diversity discourse, practices and practitioners in the UK. British Journal of Management, 22(2), 238–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R. R. Jr. (1990). From Affirmative Action to Affirming Diversity. Harvard Business Review, 68(2), 107–117.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, D. A., & Ely, R. J. (1996). Making difference matter: A new paradigm for managing diversity. Harvard Business Review, 74(5), 79–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrench, J. (2003). Managing diversity, fighting racism, or combating discrimination? A crucial exploration. Council of Europe and European Commission Seminar. Resituating Culture: Reflections on diversity, racism, gender, and identity on the context of youth. Budapest, 10–15 June 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrench, J. (2005). Diversity management can be bad for you. Race and Class, 46(3), 73–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wrench, J. (2007). Diversity Management and discrimination: Immigrants and ethnic minorities in the EU. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yakura, E. (1996). EEO law and managing diversity. In E. Kossek & S. Lobel (Eds.), Managing diversity: Human resource strategies for transforming the workplace (pp. 25–50). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zanoni, P. (2011). Diversity in the lean automobile factory: Doing class through gender, disability and age. Organization, 18(1), 105–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zanoni, P., & Janssens, M. (2004). Deconstructing difference: The rhetoric of human resource managers’ diversity discourses. Organizational Studies, 24(1), 55–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to George Gotsis .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gotsis, G., Kortezi, Z. (2015). Different Approaches to Managing a Diverse Workforce. In: Critical Studies in Diversity Management Literature. SpringerBriefs in Psychology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9475-6_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics