8 Summary

This week you have looked at some definitions of ‘diversity’ and considered the way diversity plays a part in some of the groups and teams you are familiar with, either in work or in your social life. You have thought about how society has changed over the years and reflected on what this has meant for the workplace of today.

While numerous studies have shown that an increase in diversity within the workplace is a good thing, linked to increased productivity and innovation, it is also recognised that diverse teams can have problems because of difficulties in communication, and conflicting values and opinions. You met Joan and considered some of the concerns she might have in working with a team that is very different from what she is used to. Last of all, you looked at the reality of workplaces today and the kinds of initiatives that they are engaging in to encourage increasingly diverse teams within their organisations.

You should now be able to:

• understand what ‘diversity’ means
• explain a range of factors contributing to increased diversity in the workplace today
• recognise diversity in some of the teams that you observe or belong to
• identify what some organisations are doing today to foster diversity.

In Week 7, you will consider the question of social identity and how cultural norms shape our expectations of individuals and groups. You will consider one theory of social identity in particular (Tajfel and Turner) and see how it helps us to explain the so-called ‘them-and-us’ phenomenon. You will also learn about the concepts of stereotype, prejudice and discrimination.

You can now go to Week 7 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .