Diversity Management Practices Among Diversity Inc Best Companies

Running head: DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST

COMPANIES 1

Diversity Management Practices among Diversity Inc. Best Companies

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DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST COMPANIES 2

Diversity Management Practices among Diversity Inc. Best Companies

Diversity in the workplace is an issue that has gained significant attention in academic

and organizational research. The increased dynamic nature of workplace demographics and

increased social sensitivity has made diversity a pivotal topic. Moreover, globalization has also

mounted pressure on organizations to pay considerable attention to diversity. As such, many

organizations around the world grapple with this reality and are continuously looking for ways of

improving their diversity management practices. Various scholars have defined the term

diversity from workplace perspective the with same connotation of the visible and invisible

differences manifested in terms of gender, race, age, disability, personality, and background

exhibited in the workplace (Anita & Swamy, 2018).

The importance of this concept cannot be overemphasized. Madera (2018) underscores

that the world economy has become more competitive and many organizations now operate in

different countries with diverse populations. As such, interactions among diverse groups and

diverse workforce reflect the changing world and marketplace. In this regard, competition is no

longer insular, and the hospitality industry is not an exception. Scholars such as Hinkin and

Tracey (2010) and Madera (2013) have explored this topic intently and identified best practices

applicable in hospitality and customer service sector. The present discourse delves into diversity

management practices among Diversity Inc. best companies. The paper focuses on the

competitive advantage related to diversity among corporations on the top 50 list of Diversity Inc.

Methodology

Diversity Inc. is a topnotch source of information on diversity management (Diversity

Inc., 2017). For discussion, the present paper selected ten corporations among those listed in the

Diversity Top 50 Companies in the hospitality and hospitality-related sector. The rationale for

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST COMPANIES 3

considering hospitality sector is ingrained on the understanding that this industry is an employer

of a large number of women, minority groups, and immigrant populations, a group that Diversity

Inc. seeks to champion their interests in the corporate world.

The selected companies in the Diversity Top 50 category portray exemplary practices in

areas such as hiring, retaining, and promoting women, minorities, veterans, LGBT, and people

with disabilities. This discourse considers hospitality-related corporations such as Hilton Hotel

Corporation, Target, MasterCard, CVS Health, JCPenney, Boeing Company, Abbott, Marriott

International, McCormick & Co., and Medtronic.

Upon selection of the ten companies, this paper uses a generic benchmarking assessment

method suggested in Hinkin & Tracey (2010) to analyze the diversity management practices

noted in these corporations. The generic benchmarking focuses on identifying diversity

management best practices that apply to the hospitality industry. As such, the selection of the

companies targeted industries with high customer interaction and workforce with a great

representation of minorities and women.

Themes on Diversity Practices

Diversity management practices aim at fostering a diverse workforce (Anita & Swamy,

2018). The ten companies selected from Diversity Inc. Top 50 Companies share many practices

and policies that promote workplace diversity. Consequently, these companies have gained a

unique competitive advantage in the increasingly dynamic landscape. Consistent with the

benchmark of Hinkin & Tracey (2010), the efforts of these companies have succeeded in

abolishing discrimination and striving to achieve the goals of diversifying their workplaces. This

section highlights the practices noted in these companies that resonate with the benchmark used.

HR Practices and Programs Related to Diversity Management

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST COMPANIES 4

One of the outstanding aspects of diversity notable in these corporations is in their

recruitment, selection, and human resource management practices. Most of these companies have

demonstrated exemplary performance in the area of recruitment, selection, and promotion.

Hilton, for instance, moved to the Top 10 due to its active mentoring program that has seen

women rise into one level below the CEO. JCPenny also has 67% representation of women in

the executive diversity council. MasterCard has also performed exemplarily in closing the wage

gap. Notably, the recognition of women in these companies has earned them global attention,

leaping into the coveted ranking. These companies perceive diversity as a critical component of

delivering a bottom-line. This aspect resonates with the argument of Madera (2013) that

mentoring and providing frameworks for the minority promotes a sense of diversity and

empowers the different groups in the workplace to harness their highest potential.

Secondly, these companies emphasize an organizational culture that accentuates the value

of people. Nearly all these companies exhibit a workplace culture that emphasizes the value in

people and strives to bring out the best in them. The top management of these companies has

enacted organizational culture that eliminates barriers and creates opportunities for growth and

development of human resources. At AVC Health, for example, the number of Blacks, Latinos,

and Asians in the management position has risen significantly, thanks to its commitment to

providing opportunities for all the employees to engage and contribute their best potential.

Moreover, workplace training has been a cutting-edge strategy for these companies in

matters relating to diversity. The listed organizations value employee training, development, and

they invest significantly in such endeavors to unleash their optimum dexterity. The top

executives of these companies strive to retain talent by ensuring that their employees not only

acquainted with the job expectations but also socialize effectively to gain a clear and

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST COMPANIES 5

comprehensive understanding of their culture. JCPenny, for instance, has developed JCPenny’s

Emerging Leaders program that generates a pipeline for sharp and diverse talent. Similar

programs are evident in Boeing Company. The training seeks to help racially diverse managers

and senior leaders to exploit their career progression through personal and professional

development. Such training programs keep the employees engaged and committed to the

corporate goals of their organizations.

Another HR practice for diversity in these companies is performance management.

According to Hinkin and Tracey (2010), performance management plays a pivotal role in

ensuring diversity in the workplace. The selected companies have stood out in this spectrum.

They have clear criteria for gauging employee performance to make decisions on promotions and

rewards transparently. Target, for example, strives to give everyone access to the same

opportunity through its diversity council. The company encourages its teams to uphold openness

and embrace equity. This practice resonates with the benchmark of Hinkin and Tracey (2010),

regarding performance management as a tool for diversity.

Lessons Other Corporations can learn from the Listed Companies

There are a plethora of lessons other companies can draw from the listed companies

regarding workplace diversity management. First, creating a diverse culture begins with shaping

organizational culture. According to Hinkin and Tracey (2010), diversity in the workplace

thrives in an influential culture that cares and places emphasis on people. In this regard, other

companies seeking to diversify their workforce need to fine-tune their culture to place value on

employees as a critical component for organizational success.

Secondly, other companies need to strengthen their hiring, selection, and retention

practices to promote diversity. As noted among the listed companies, the recruitment and

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST COMPANIES 6

selection method of an organization is a mirror that reflects the diversity practices of an

organization (Madera, 2013). Companies must be innovative in their recruitment strategies to

attract, win, and retain diverse top-notch talent. Mandera (2013) suggests publicizing the awards

won, use of dynamic media, rigorous selection procedures, and referrals awards as some of the

innovative strategies a company can employ to win top-class talent.

Another lesson from these companies is to develop effective leadership initiatives. All

these companies have established diversity councils that administer diversity programs. For

successful implementation of diversity programs, companies must monitor diversity outcomes.

Consistent with the proposal by Madera (2013), creating diversity and non-discrimination

policies in the workplace and diversifying training programs is imperative.

Summary and Conclusion

From the preceding discussion, diversity management practices are a hallmark of success

in the competitive corporate landscape. For any company to prosper in the increasingly

competitive hospitality industry, diversity must be a priority. It is noteworthy that companies

must strive to make diversity part of their DNA. As evident among the companies listed in

Diversity Inc., leadership initiatives, mentorship programs, recruitment and selection practices,

organizational culture, and performance management practices define a company’s commitment

to diversity. Hospitality companies must put in place policies that create cultural awareness and

provide career growth and development opportunities equitably.

A look at diversity practices from Diversity Inc. top-rated companies provides a window

into understanding practices that have enabled these top-rated corporations to succeed. The

practices highlighted in the discourse are relevant to the hospitality industry since this industry

employs a relatively large number of women, immigrant populations, and minority groups.

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST COMPANIES 7

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to diversity, every organization should strive to

embrace a wide range of practices to be as diverse as possible.

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AMONG DIVERSITY INC. BEST COMPANIES 8

References

Anita, R., & Swamy, V. (2018). Diversity Management at Workplace: Aspects, Challenges, and

Strategies. International Journal of Engineering Technology Science and Research, 5(1),

306-316.

Diversity Inc. (2017, May 03). DiversityInc Announces 2017 Top 50 Companies for Diversity

List. Retrieved from Diversity Inc. : https://www.diversityinc.com/about/

Hinkin, T., & Tracey, B. (2010). What Makes It So Great? : An Analysis of Human Resources

Practices among Fortune's Best Companies to Work For. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly,

51(2), 158-170.

Madera, J. (2013). Best Practices in Diversity Management in Customer Service Organizations:

An Investigation of Top Companies Cited by Diversity Inc. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly

, 1-12.

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