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Workplace Diversity Issues Explained

This document contains a tutorial with multiple choice and true/false questions about workplace diversity. It covers topics like the different eras of diversity focus from the 1960s to today, benefits of diversity like better talent usage, and types of diversity including surface vs deep level diversity. Discrimination, stereotyping, and inclusion are also discussed. The questions address concepts like the strategic value of a diverse workforce and examples of exclusionary discrimination.

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shorouk salah
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
135 views4 pages

Workplace Diversity Issues Explained

This document contains a tutorial with multiple choice and true/false questions about workplace diversity. It covers topics like the different eras of diversity focus from the 1960s to today, benefits of diversity like better talent usage, and types of diversity including surface vs deep level diversity. Discrimination, stereotyping, and inclusion are also discussed. The questions address concepts like the strategic value of a diverse workforce and examples of exclusionary discrimination.

Uploaded by

shorouk salah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Chapter 5

Tutorial (5)
Question (1): Multiple choices:
1) The ways in which people in an organization are different from and similar to one another is
known as ________.
A) business etiquette
B) work culture
C) workplace diversity
D) organizational democracy
Answer: C
2) The period of time between the 1960s to 1970s focused on ________.
A) assimilating minorities and women into the corporate setting
B) making employees more aware and sensitive to the needs and differences of others
C) diversity and inclusion for business success, profitability, and growth
D) complying with laws and regulations through affirmative action policies and programs
Answer: D
3) During which era was the term "workforce diversity" first used?
A) new millennium
B) late 1980s
C) 1960s to 1970s
D) early 1980s
Answer: B
4) In terms of workplace diversity, the New Millennium has witnessed increased focus on
________.
A) complying with laws and regulations laid down by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission
B) assimilating minorities and women employees into the corporate setting
C) shifting from compliance to include everyone in diversification efforts
D) diversity and inclusion for business success, profitability, and growth
Answer: D
5) In the process of getting acquainted, John and his new co-worker Bill have discovered they
have different tastes in music and books, that one is extroverted and the other introverted, that
one prefers working in teams and the other works best alone. They are exploring ________.
A) surface-level diversity
B) deep-level diversity
C) stereotypes
D) biases
Answer: B
6) Which of the following people management benefits arises from workplace diversity?
A) improved system flexibility
B) potential to increase market share
C) increased understanding of the marketplace
D) better use of employee talent
Answer: D

7) Ben is selecting members for a problem-solving team. Which of the following team
compositions is most likely to result in better team performance?
A) employees with at least ten years of seniority
B) employees from the quality department
C) employees from a variety of ethnic and gender backgrounds
D) an all-male or all-female team
Answer: C
8) Which of the following benefits of workplace diversity is categorized as strategic?
A) better use of talent
B) improved system flexibility
C) potential to improve market share
D) reduced costs associated with high turnover
Answer: C
9) Which of the following statements is true of gender diversity in workplaces?
A) No consistent male-female differences exist in problem-solving ability, analytical skills,
competitive drive, motivation, sociability, or learning ability.
B) Today, men make up nearly two-thirds of the workforce, while women account for the
remaining third.
C) Affirmative action policies have resulted in women, generally, starting their careers at higher
levels than men.
D) Despite the disparity in representation in the workforce, women earn nearly as much as men
do on a median basis.
Answer: A
10) Employee A prefers to work flexible hours and to work from home as often as practical.
According to research, Employee A is likely to be ________.
A) a minority
B) disabled
C) female
D) older
Answer: C
11) Which of the following managerial styles is traditionally considered to be feminine?
A) authoritative
B) leading by example
C) inclusive
D) being directive
Answer: C
12) ________ is the biological heritage (including physical characteristics such as one's skin
color and associated traits) that people use to identify themselves.
A) Nationality
B) Ethnicity
C) Culture
D) Race
Answer: D
13) ________ refers to the social traits that are shared by a human population.
A) Race
B) Ancestry
C) Nationality
D) Ethnicity
Answer: D
14) Which of the following statements is true of employing disabled employees?
A) Hiring people with disabilities leads to higher employment costs and lower profit margins.
B) Workers with disabilities lack job skills and experience necessary to perform as well as their
abled counterparts.
C) Employees with disabilities are exempt from potential disciplinary action, and there are high
costs associated with accommodating disabled employees.
D) A person with a disability for whom workplace accommodations have been provided has the
same obligations and rights as far as job performance.
Answer: D
15) Kathleen likes cats. She believes people who own cats are independent and free spirits. She
finds out Linda has a cat. Therefore, Linda is independent and free-spirited. In order, what is
happening here?
A) prejudice, stereotyping, bias
B) stereotyping, bias, prejudice
C) bias, stereotyping, discrimination
D) bias, prejudice, stereotyping
Answer: D
16) What type of discrimination is said to have occurred when certain actions taken by
representatives of an organization deny equal opportunity to perform or unequal rewards for
performance?
A) exclusion
B) discriminatory practices or policies
C) incivility
D) intimidation
Answer: B
17) What type of discrimination are older workers in an organization subjected to if they are laid
off for being highly paid and having lucrative benefits?
A) incivility
B) intimidation
C) discriminatory practices
D) exclusion
Answer: C
18) What type of discrimination usually involves jokes or negative stereotypes being perpetrated
about fellow employees?
A) mockery and insults
B) discriminatory policies
C) exclusion
D) intimidation
Answer: A
19) Which of the following is an example of workplace discrimination in the form of exclusion?
A) Older workers may be targeted for layoffs because they are highly paid and have lucrative
benefits.
B) African American employees at some companies have found racist graffiti in their work
areas.
C) Female lawyers note that male attorneys frequently cut them off or do not adequately address
their comments.
D) Many women in finance claim they are assigned to marginal job roles or are given light
workloads that don't lead to promotion.
Answer: D
20) As a form of discrimination, incivility is said to occur when ________.
A) an employee is excluded from job opportunities or social events
B) an employee belonging to a specific group is overtly threatened or bullied
C) an employee's opinions are consciously ignored
D) an employee is denied equal opportunity to perform
Answer: C
2]1) Which of the following examples would be considered appropriate stereotyping?
A) assuming women to be particularly bad drivers
B) bracketing working mothers as not being committed fully to their jobs
C) assuming red-haired people have rather nasty tempers
D) asking someone from accounting to help with a budgeting problem
Answer: D
22) Ang Li has found it rather hard to move up in her managerial career at her workplace
especially when compared to how fellow graduate from Tri-Valley, American-born Adam
Watson, has managed to become the regional manager of sales in the company. This suggests the
presence of ________ in Li's organization.
A) goldbricking
B) a self-serving bias
C) a glass ceiling
D) prejudice
Answer: C
Question (2): Put (T) or (F)
1) Demographic characteristics such as differences in age, gender, race, etc. reflect surface-level
diversity among employees.
Answer: TRUE
2) An important impact that workplace diversity has on organizational performance is through
the increase in employee turnover.
Answer: FALSE
3) One of the strategic benefits of workplace diversity is that it can be viewed as the "right" thing
to do.
Answer: TRUE

Common questions

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Stereotyping contributes to workplace discrimination by promoting set beliefs about groups which can lead to biased treatment and unequal opportunities. For instance, assumptions about women or minorities can affect their career progression . To mitigate its effects, organizations must foster awareness through training, establish clear anti-discrimination policies, and cultivate an inclusive culture that values individual capabilities over preconceived notions . Encouraging diversity sensitivity and understanding at all levels helps in countering the negative impacts of stereotyping .

Gender diversity is linked to the absence of consistent male-female differences in problem-solving, analytical skills, competitive drive, motivation, sociability, or learning ability, indicating that gender does not determine these aptitudes . Feminine management styles, often categorized as inclusive, are traditionally contrasted with authoritative approaches and may foster collaborative environments, leveraging diversity to enhance problem-solving efficacy . This suggests that diverse gender perspectives can enhance managerial effectiveness by integrating varied approaches to leadership and problem resolution .

Older workers often face discrimination through practices such as being laid off for economic reasons, particularly when they are highly paid or have generous benefits, which constitutes discriminatory practices . Organizational cultures that prioritize youth or newer skill sets over experience contribute to this bias . Addressing these challenges requires active policies against ageism and recognition of the unique value and expertise that older employees bring to the workplace . Incorporating mentoring roles and valuing diverse experiences can alleviate some of these issues .

In the 1960s to 1970s, the focus was on compliance with laws and affirmative action policies to include minorities and women in workplaces . The late 1980s introduced the term "workforce diversity", emphasizing the inclusion of diversity for broader social equity . By the New Millennium, the focus had shifted to integrating diversity and inclusion as drivers for business success, growth, and profitability . This shift represents a movement from simple compliance to a nuanced strategy of leveraging diversity for organizational advantage .

Providing workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities ensures that such employees have the same obligations and rights as their counterparts when it comes to job performance . These accommodations level the playing field, allowing employees to contribute fully to their roles. This equitable approach is essential for fostering an inclusive work environment and leveraging the potential of all employees, ultimately benefiting organizational productivity and morale .

Strategically, workplace diversity can improve an organization's market share as diverse teams may better understand and cater to a diverse customer base, thereby expanding reach and relevance in the marketplace . Additionally, diversity enables better use of employee talent by tapping into varied perspectives and skills, thus enhancing innovation and problem-solving capabilities . These strategic benefits underscore diversity's value beyond compliance, positioning it as a lever for competitive advantage .

Workplace diversity includes both surface-level diversity, such as demographic characteristics like age, gender, and race, and deep-level diversity, which involves differences in beliefs, values, and preferences. Surface-level diversity often influences initial interactions, while deep-level diversity is more significant for long-term dynamics and workplace relationships . This diversity helps organizations leverage varied perspectives but also requires inclusive strategies to enhance cooperative interactions among diverse employees .

Appropriate stereotyping involves using people's skills or expertise as a baseline for decision-making, such as assuming someone from accounting can handle budgeting tasks . In contrast, harmful stereotyping is based on unfounded beliefs about demographic traits, leading to discrimination. This can marginalize groups, hinder career advancement, and damage workplace morale . The key distinction lies in whether stereotypes are used to positively recognize professional abilities or unfairly attribute negative assumptions to personal characteristics. Addressing harmful stereotypes requires fostering a culture of equity and meritocracy .

Workplace diversity can lead to improved team performance as diverse teams bring a wider range of perspectives and problem-solving approaches, fostering creativity and innovation. Teams composed of members from varied ethnic and gender backgrounds typically perform better due to the broader range of viewpoints they encompass, enhancing the team's ability to approach problems from multiple angles . This diversity discourages groupthink and enhances team decision-making .

Understanding surface-level diversity, which includes observable characteristics such as race and gender, can help in addressing initial biases that might cause conflict. Meanwhile, recognizing deep-level diversity, encompassing values and personality traits, enables managers to bridge differences in work styles and preferences, addressing the root causes of conflicts . Effective conflict management combines initiatives that promote inclusivity and open communication, focusing on harmonizing diverse perspectives for mutual understanding and cooperation .

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