individuality and inclusion

Question 1

What is personality/ individual differences? How does this benefit orgs to know of this?

Answer 1

The ways in which people are similar and dissimilar in their personal characteristics.
- This enables us to understand why people act and behave as they do, and how to better their environment to support their character and improve performance.

Question 2

What is personality? Give some examples of personality traits.

Answer 2

A set of psychological characteristics that influence the way an individual interacts with their environment, how they behave, think, feel, etc.
- independence.
- conscientiousness.
- agreeableness.
- self control.

Question 3

How does personality rise? How is this used in orgs?

Answer 3

Trait activation theory: depending on situations (including workplace environment), a certain trait is more prominent than others.
- in orgs, they can use rewards to promote a specific behaviour.
- knowing how to reward appropriately to the person would be based on their personality: introverts want private approval, whereas extroverts may want public approval.

Question 4

What is diversity management? Why is this important in organisations?

Answer 4

Diversity management: the use of diversity in the workplace to reach business objectives.

Diversity is important as:
- fairness.
- respective.
- different perspectives/accounts are taken into view and consideration.
- values are increased.

Question 5

Explain how diversity is a competitive advantage. Basically explain heterogeneous group advantages.

Answer 5

Cost-argument: diversity allows for more creativity and innovation, which allows the org to benefit financially with an increase of overall performance.

Problem solving argument: heterogenous employees in problem solving and decision groups produce better decisions through a wider range of perspectives.
- critical thinking.

Creativity argument: Diversity of perspectives and less emphasis on conformity to norms of the past should improve the level of creativity.
- creative responses compared to homogeneous counterparts.

Question 6

What are some limitations and criticisms? Explain some heterogeneous disadvantages.

Answer 6

• Greater compatibility of a group means for greater homogeneity and greater risk of groupthink.
• Diversity consensus dilemma: where great diversity can also result in holdbacks on other things, such as incompatible values.
• The focus of improved performance is emphasised, but not equal opportunity or wider societal issues.

Question 7

What are some diversity landscape/examples?

Answer 7

• Aging population
• Changing family structure.
• English is not always the first language.
• Members of the LGBTQ community.