Posted on 01/20/2008 9:04:18 AM PST by 3AngelaD
Most diversity training efforts at American companies are ineffective and even counterproductive in increasing the number of women and minorities in managerial positions, according to an analysis that turns decades of conventional wisdom, government policy and court rulings on their head. A comprehensive review of 31 years of data from 830 mid-size to large U.S. workplaces found that the kind of diversity training exercises offered at most firms were followed by a 7.5 percent drop in the number of women in management. The number of black, female managers fell by 10 percent, and the number of black men in top positions fell by 12 percent. Similar effects were seen for Latinos and Asians.
The analysis did not find that all diversity training is useless. Rather, it showed that mandatory programs -- often undertaken mainly with an eye to avoiding liability in discrimination lawsuits -- were the problem...
Today, U.S. businesses spend from $200 million to $300 million a year on diversity training, but the new study...found is that programs work best when they are voluntary..."Forcing people to go through training creates a backlash against diversity," said Alexandra Kalev, a sociologist at the University of Arizona...
Frank Dobbin, an organizational sociologist at Harvard and one of Kalev's co-authors, said narratives about interpersonal conflict that are sometimes featured in "sensitivity training" can be counterproductive. For one thing, he said, they upset many people, who then actively resist change. But more important, he said, they downplay the importance of organizational structure in embracing -- or resisting -- long-term change....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
ineffective? or counterproductive?
I believe it to be counterproductive.
I got all m diversity training from watching Family Guy.
However, it makes the people that organize diversity training feel better about themselves and that is really what is all about and making a little money on the side does not hurt either.
Keep in mind the actual definition of “diversity”:
Celebrating the fact that people are different,
while at the same time
pretending not to notice that people are different.
Well d'oh!
when enough people realize something is a joke then it naturally becomes ineffective
OMGROFLMAO!!!I love that pic. LMAO
Makes my head spin just thinking about it.
Divesity training creates a backlash?
Whodathunkit?
Where is Captain Obvious when you need him?
If the point was to increase diversity in the executive ranks, then sure it was a failure.
But what if the point was the provide employment to Shakedown’s friends in the diversity training industry?
People merely do not openly express their opinions.
Is that even what 'diversity training' was supposed to accomplish? How does 'diversity training' increase the skills of women and minorities to be qualified for managerial positions? (Unless, of course, they're being held down by 'the man'. In that case, their managerial skill don't matter as much as their genitalia and pigmentation do.)
The writers of “The Office” clearly understood the stupidity of diversity programs long before this study ever appeared. It must just burn the Left to see themselves parodied so expertly every week. ;)
The writers of “The Office” clearly understood the stupidity of diversity programs long before this study ever appeared. It must just burn the Left to see themselves parodied so expertly every week. ;)
OR a simpler question...how many devoted communists came out of the Soviet reeducation camps?
I’ve sat through diversity training. Words can’t describe the cold, Orwellian evil that chilled the room that day.
I’m glad I have tenure and didn’t have to grovel like some of my younger colleagues did.
You mean skin color doesn’t make someone a good businessperson? Well, color me shocked.
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