Managing Diversity

Course Overview

This course covers the vitally important work of managing diversity in contemporary workforces. We will explore the reasons diversity is fundamental for the success of any company or organization across all industries. We will consider the current challenges and best practices in supporting, creating, and cultivating diverse, multicultural, and socially just workplaces. This course will look at ways to create diverse environments through recruitment and retention policies and practices as well as leadership development.

Learning and understanding concepts of diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion can be difficult and revolve around attitudes and behaviors generated from societal and cultural constructs.

Students’ engagement both through personal reflection and response with intellectual and mental skill development is paramount for this type of class. A range of activities and learning methods will be used, all aimed at encouraging participation, an open environment and promoting proactivity, group processing, productive dialogue, and self-reflection.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course student should be able to:

(in terms of knowledge):

  1. list and define basic concepts in the field of diversity management;
  2. enumerate and understand models, methods and tools used in diversity management;
  3. create and apply diversity management strategies.

(in terms of skills):

  1. formulate research problems and collect relevant data in the field of diversity management;
  2. design activities in the field of diversity management;
  3. evaluate the effects of socially diverse activities;

(in terms of social competences):

  1. is ready to initiate and undertake various activities in the organization in the field of diversity management;
  2. is ready to solve and prevent diversity management problems;
  3. is ready to act in accordance with the principles of social diversity.

Course Content

  1. Diversity in the world - essence and theoretical foundations.
  2. Conditions for the development of the concept of diversity management - selected aspects.
  3. Diversity and diversity management in the organization – history and current status.
  4. Key areas of implementing the concept of diversity management in the organization.
  5. Organizations open to diversity - leadership features in such organizations.
  6. Concepts of diversity management plans and programs.
  7. Diversity management – global strategies and solutions.
  8. Diversity in practice in European organizations.

Instructional Method

  1. Lecture with multimedia presentation
  2. Case studies/simulation games
  3. Analysis and interpretation of source texts
  4. Project and discussion

Required Course Materials

Textbook and Other Class Materials:

  • Diversity at Work: The Practice of Inclusion, Ferdman and Deane, Jossey-Bass, 2014.
  • Harvard Business Review - Group Project Case Studies (2).
  • Mazur B., Cultural Diversity in Organisational Theory and Practice, Journal of Intercultural Management Vol. 2, No. 2, November 2010, pp. 5–15.
  • Mazur B., Management: Diversity for Sustainability, Monographs Lublin University of Technology, Lublin 2022.
  • Mazur B., Linking diversity management and corporate social responsibility, Journal of Intercultural Management, 5/2013, Issue No: 3, 39-47.

Assessment

Class Attendance & Participation

(Attendance = 15% and Participation = 25%)

Class attendance and participation are essential to maximizing learning outcomes in this course. Attendance will be taken each class. Student participation is vital for creating a classroom environment that is creative, thoughtful, and engaging. Students are expected to be attentive, engaged, and reflective in class. Participation will not necessarily be graded on the volume or quantity of speaking in class but the quality of contribution and participation in class discussion. Students will be able to self-evaluate their class attendance and participation at the end of the class.

Class Participation Grading Criteria

Student attends the entire class, actively participates in all class activities, small group discussions, and makes insightful contributions to full class discussions, by engaging in many of the following behaviors:

  • Sharing a relevant personal story or insight;
  • Offering an opinion on the topic at hand;
  • Making comments that integrate multiple readings and/or class themes;
  • Raising a new and interesting question that generates class discussion;
  • Providing an insightful answer to another student’s question.

Project

Diversity Planning Project (Paper = 40% and Presentation = 20%)

The class will be divided into teams of approximately 4-5 students and assigned a particular case study. Each team will be developing a diversity strategic plan for a company or organization. Teams must submit a 10–15-page response to the case study using theories, best practices, and insights gained through the class. Each team will present an 8–10-minute presentation and discussion summarizing their case study and response the last day of class. Each student must present. Team members will submit a recommended grade for each team member.