Diversity Climate

Diversity

According to Kinicki and Kreitner diversity is the individual differences and seminaries that exist among people. Diversity is the differences that make us so unique from each other. It is how we perceive others and ourselves. Managing diversity can be difficult due to the fact there are so many aspects in it to be able to achieve the goal of empowering people to perform at their maximum level (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009).

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Layers of Diversity

There are four layers of diversity: personality, internal dimensions, external dimensions and organizational dimensions. These four layers combined define our personal identity and impacts how we view the world (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009).

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Personality

Personality is the center of everything due to the fact it is a stable set of characteristics that defines who we are. These characteristics include how one looks, acts, feels, and thinks. There are five personality dimensions: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience. An individual who has a strong conscientiousness personality is said to have a proactive personality. These individuals identify and take action until change occurs. A proactive personality is positively associated with an organization's success. A proactive personality would be very important in helping to manage diversity (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009).

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Internal Dimensions

Internal dimensions are age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender and physical ability. These dimensions are referred to as the primary dimensions of diversity. Internal dimensions we have no control over however; they strongly influence our attitudes, assumptions, and expectations toward others. Stereotyping is an excellent example of how internal dimensions influence our behavior toward others that are different from us (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009).

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External Dimensions

External dimensions are the third layer of diversity. External dimensions are referred to as secondary dimensions and unlike internal dimensions we have the ability to control and influence these individual differences. External dimensions include: geographic location, income, personal habit, recreational habits, religion, educational background, work experience, appearance, parental status, and marital status. It is important to positively influence this dimension because; these dimensions also have a great amount of influence on our behaviors, attitudes and perceptions of others (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009).

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Organizational Dimensions

Organizational dimensions are functional level/classification, work content/field, diversity department/unit/ group, seniority, work location, union affiliation, and management status. Understanding these Dimensions are all part of managing diversity in an organization (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2009).

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Managing Diversity

You have to approach managing diversity in an