Practical Coach: Management Skills for Everyday Life, The

If Diversity Is So Good for Organizations, Why Does Progress Seem to Lag Behind the Promise?

Organizations that have strong diversity programs are better able to recruit, retain, and leverage the talent of the best and the brightest employees, lower costs by increasing productivity and avoiding expensive legal suits, tap into diverse markets both nationally and globally, and enhance their reputations among their constituents. But if diversity is so good for organizations, why do many diversity programs fail to have the positive impact that organizations desire?

The most important reason may be a lack of systematic planning and patience. As with all organizational resources, a diverse workforce is a competitive advantage only if it is understood, ...