Discussion 1

Ethical Dilemma

This discussion has two parts. Please post answers to both parts:

a. Create a workplace scenario with an ethical dilemma. Describe the workplace, the actors involved in terms of their cultural diversity, and the decision that must be made. Post and share this with your classmates.

b. Respond to a minimum of two classmates. In your responses, choose an ethical dilemma created by a classmate. In your responses, describe:

• The courses of action or decisions available.
• The ethical imperatives or codes that may apply
• The consequences for at least two decisions or courses of action
• Specify deontological and teleological ethical theories in your remarks.

This assignment is worth 3 points of the total course grade.

Discussion 2

Competitive Advantage

We all bring differences and similarities to the workplace and diversity management work is about the impact that this has on our workplace in terms of getting work accomplished and creating mechanisms that can identify and remove artificial or real barriers for people's success. In 2 or 3 paragraphs, persuade a colleague, using both business ethical arguments and/or competitive advantage reasoning, about the value a diverse workforce brings to an organization. Respond to at least two of your classmates' postings no later than Day 7.

This assignment is worth 3 points of the total course grade.

Written Assignment

Final Summative Assessment: Lessons From The Top 50

Using the "Top 50 Best Companies" list from www.DiversityInc.com, select a company or organization for your project. In this scenario, you have been given a directive by this company to analyze the company's internal work environment for challenges and opportunities related to diversity and/or equal employment opportunities. Through primary and/or secondary research, you are to assess the company's or organization's policies, practices and procedures to determine where there could be hidden barriers for success, or, conversely, where there could be clear organizational strengths. Develop an outline of the points you would cover in the process. Provide pertinent details about the organization you researched, articulate your research methodology, and clearly explain your findings.

Address each of the following points in your paper of 12-18 pages:

1. "Was [my company]'s strategy and approach to diversity successful or not, and why?" (This is your thesis statement.)

2. Is there a mission, vision or value statement that incorporates diversity and how clearly is the diversity commitment articulated?

3. Is the executive team representative of the community at large?

4. In what level of the organization are most of the diverse employees?

5. Is there a diversity plan in place?

6. Describe the internal office responsible for diversity and inclusion.

7. Is there an affirmative action plan in place?

8. What are its features?

9. Are the policies, practices and procedures appropriately defined?

10. Has the company experienced known legal concerns related to diversity?

11. Are the images in the marketing material (website, advertisements, brochures etc.) reflective of society?

Research Strategy:

Modified from a list retrieved from http://college.cengage.com/business/resources/casestudies/students/analyzing.htm

• Investigate and Analyze the Organization's History and Growth. A company's past can greatly affect the present and future state of the organization. To begin your case study analysis, investigate the company's founding, critical incidents, structure, and growth generally. Concentrate on diversity.

• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses Within the Company that relate to diversity and inclusion. Using the information you gathered in step one, continue your case study analysis by examining and making a list of the value creation functions of the company. For example, the company may be weak in its human resources management, but strong in marketing.

• Gather Information on the External Environment. The third step involves identifying the company's external environment. Special items to note include the landscape of the competition within the industry.

• Analyze Your Findings. Using the information in steps two and three, you will need to create an evaluation for this portion of your case study analysis. Compare the strengths and weaknesses within the company to the external threats and opportunities. Determine if the company is in a strong competitive position and decide if it can continue at its current pace successfully.

• Identify Corporate Level Strategy. To identify a company's corporate level strategy for your case study analysis, you will need to identify and evaluate the company's mission, goals, and corporate strategy.

• Analyze the company's line of business and its subsidiaries and acquisitions. You will also want to debate the pros and cons of the company strategy.

• Identify Legal Readiness. Thus far, your case study analysis has identified the company's corporate level strategy. To perform a complete analysis, you will need to identify the company's legal readiness. Do they have an affirmative action plan? For this part of the case study analysis, you should identify and analyze each company's competitive strategy, marketing strategy, costs, and general focus.

• Analyze Implementations. This portion of the analysis requires that you identify and analyze the systems that the company is using to implement its strategies around diversity and inclusion. Evaluate organizational change, organizational chart and bureaucratic structure around diversity and inclusion, levels of hierarchy, employee rewards, conflicts, and other issues that are important to the company you are analyzing.

• Make Recommendations for Diversity and Inclusion Going Forward. The final part of your case study analysis should include your recommendations for the company. Every recommendation you make should be based on and supported by the context of your case study analysis.

• Consult Chapter 17, "Fostering Inclusion" in Diversity at Work: The Practice of Inclusion for ideas on how to prepare for the final assignment.

Journal

Student Learning Journal

At the end of this week, submit a 100 - 200 word reflection highlighting your key learning from your journal entries.