Question: If diversity is so very important within the workplace, why does it seem that they only focus on one group of people?

How: it is very clear to understand why diversity was needed to be introduced into the workplace, however, in such places like the plants, they seem to only hire one group of people, for higher positions

Research question: diversity is needed to balance out of workplace, but what happens when diversity is not being implemented correctly?

(You can change the research question around to make it more appropriate, this is just a layout)

Literature Reference:

My literature review:

Introduction:

DEI abbreviations stand for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; therefore, the term DEI is mainly used as an initiative that aims to maintain and improve diversity, inclusion, and equity in a workplace. In an organization, DEI initiatives refer to a conceptual tool used to promote the workplace’s full participation and fair treatment of all stakeholders. Diversity in the context of DEI refers to an individual’s involvement with several backgrounds and different identities. Diversity initiative comprises ways people’s identities in a workplace, such as age, sexuality, religion, race, and ethnicity, can be different. Equity initiative refers to equitable treatment and conditions within a workplace which enable people to participate and engage equally.

Language and Cultural Diversity as Elements of Diversity

All elements of diversity in a workforce have different impacts on an organization’s progress. Therefore, it is upon organizational management to ensure they attained positive results from the involved diversity. Language as an element of diversity in business activities refers to a tool of expression that expresses the entire stakeholder’s culture by communicating people’s beliefs, values, customs and fostering feelings of group solidarity and identity. Notably, language as an element of diversity is an inseparable culture section. Language diversity in a workplace encrypts society’s values and norms besides playing a critical role in celebrating and preserving cultural diversity (Jonasson, Lauring & Guttormsen, 2018 np). Language is a window into its respective culture, reasoning, and social living. Therefore, many organization experiences universal cognizance of the fact that language diversity contributes to organizational success through ensuring intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity.

Cultural Diversity

In a workplace, cultural diversity is considered and defined as underlying values that direct people’s behavior within an organization. Remarkably, cultural diversity occurs in a workplace due to employees’ traditions, practices, beliefs, and values based on gender, race, age, religion, and ethnicity. Currently, economic globalization in the workforce has emerged as one of the considerable cultural diversity’s driving forces; the above effort has exposed employers to the fact that diversity provides intangible and material benefits in an organization. Therefore, for employers to reap cultural diversity benefits in a workplace must use language tools to communicate their effort and commitment in addressing some of the possible challenges experienced in a diverse workforce. In the modern business environment, some issues associated with cultural diversity has emerged as threats in the various workplace. For instance, many organizations that have emerged due to the positivity of cultural diversity have experienced challenges on how to facilitate people belonging to different groups to work cohesively. Relating to cultural diversity, the following are some of the key issues that should be addressed in a workplace; the first vital issue is a conflict that occurs as a result of prejudice, racism, discrimination, and lack of respect is practiced in the workplace (Chau et al. 2021 pp 31). Secondly, harassment and disregarding needs, which occur following the company’s ignorance on the needs of disabled employees when not well addressed, obstructs the realization of organizational goals, are other essential issues to consider.

Benefits of Cultural Diversity

Application of cultural diversity in a workplace is associated with benefits that an organization enjoys from the applied cultural diversity; the following are some of the benefits of cultural diversity.

1. Perspectives Inspiration of Creativity and Drive Innovation

The way people perceive their culture can influence the real world. A viewpoint’s variety besides wide-ranging personal and professional experience can result in a perspective that can inspire employees to consider the workplace and world differently. Therefore, diversity of thoughts breeds creativity and drives innovation to ensure customers’ needs are met. Additionally, creating a platform that enhances the exchange of business ideas reaps more benefits of cultural diversity in a workplace (Clark, 2020 pp 2). Notably, in an organization, the appropriate way of ensuring the development of innovative ideas is via an inclusive and diverse workforce.

2. Knowledge and Insight of Local Market Makes a Company Competitive and Profitable

Applying a multi-cultural workforce in a business company provides a significant edge and expansion into a new market. Understanding the competitive landscape, laws, customs, and regulations allows an organization to thrive, local links and cultural understanding boost international workforce development. Therefore, emerging more competitive in the field ultimately means being profitable. According to research from McKinsey research findings, diversity is explained as good for the bottom line of a business, and ethnically varied companies are 35% likely to receive financial returns compared to the nationwide median industry (Clark, 2020 pp 3)

3. Cultural Sensitivity Makes Local Knowledge and Insight of Higher Quality to Meet Needs of Targeted Market

Understanding cultural diversity and local market skills subject a company to a more effective marketing strategy. Therefore, knowledge of a certain market and insight becomes invaluable in terms of imagery and design, resulting in a sensitivity of high-quality skills that enable a company to enter successfully in the targeted market.

4. Cultural Diversity enables Company to Attract and Retain the Best Talent

Today, two-thirds of job hunters miss opportunities because of not conversing with cultural diversity, which is essential for evaluating job offers and companies. In the modern competitive international job market, demonstrating an organization is invested through nurturing an inclusive and multi-cultural environment enables the institution to emerge successfully. Significantly, making diversity a critical part of the enlisting process broadens perspective workers’ talent (Marcelin et al. 2019 pp 65). Workers in a diverse workplace remain loyal and feel valued for their effort, which fosters joint respect among workers.

5. Cultural Diversity offers a Wide Range of Goods and Services

Drawing aptitude pool from cultural diversity enables an organization to benefit from hiring experienced professionals, hence maintaining the growth of an institution. A broader and diverse skill offers goods and services which enable a business to emerge competitive in the market because of having competitive merits of adaptability (Clark, 2020 pp 4). Notably, a firm with cognitive and cultural diversity is faster to spot a market niche and have insight and experience, making a company flexible to meet varying consumer behavior.

6. Opportunity for Personal and Professional Growth

Culturally and inclusively, the diverse company attracts internationally minded and brilliant professionals who appreciate available opportunities useful in personal and professional business growth. Working across cultures enables an organization to enrich experience from around the globe (Hardy & Nortje, 2020 pp 1). Bonding differences and similarities help an organization become global and more diverse besides exposing workers to new approaches and skills to develop an international network that makes their career broad and capable of achieving professional and personal growth.

DEI Initiatives that may Reduce Language and Cultural Barriers in the workplace

Following today’s state of competition in the market, business leaders have noted the importance of creating DEI programs to drive business activities towards achieving the goals and objectives of an organization. When an organization wants workers to have a sense of belonging, embracing DEI initiatives can positively impact their work engagement and satisfaction. Significantly, following the above work engagement and satisfaction, the company expects increased productivity and employee retention (Carey, 2020 np). Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives play a critical role in reducing language and cultural barriers in a workplace; the following are various approaches the above initiatives use in reducing impacts of cultural and language barriers.

1. Language Barrier in a Workplace

The inclusive initiative reduces language barriers by combating all noted barriers with language training. For instance, in a situation whereby a workplace has a large number of France, the above initiative recommends for the workers to have introductory French language training; the above provides workers with a good understanding of where the French workers come from hence reducing the impacts of a language barrier in the workplace. Secondly, inclusive initiative reduces challenges of a language barrier in a workplace by encouraging employees to explore other cultures to become conversant with many languages in the market. Language being an intrinsic section of culture, encouraging workers to explore other cultures helps reduce the language barrier. Thirdly, equity initiative through discussing cultural differences in a workplace reduces language barrier problems. In a workplace, the above initiative significantly educates workers on cultural differences to reduce the language barrier (Bethune 2020 np