Ethics Information


Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Diversity And Success, In The Workplace


This article relates to the Diversity in the Workplace Competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. This competency explores whether your organization provides understanding and supports interaction among diverse population groups while respecting individuals' personal values and ideas. Research shows that by fostering a climate where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic, an organization can create a success-oriented, cooperative and caring work environment that draws intellectual strength and produces innovative solutions from the synergy of its people.

All businesses can benefit from a diverse body of talent bringing fresh ideas, perspectives, and views to the workplace. However, a diverse workforce means that the managers within your organization must be capable of capitalizing on the mixture of genders, cultural backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles present in your staff to respond to business opportunities more rapidly and creatively.

This short story, Diversity----and Success, in the Workplace, is part of AlphaMeasure's Compilation, Tales from the Corporate Frontlines. It illustrates how one manager recognized and used a diverse team to achieve the best possible work product for the company, and win new business as well.

Anonymous Submission

It was a project unlike any our small ad agency had ever undertaken. A new client, selling a completely different product than we usually worked with. And our team had been awarded the opportunity to develop the perfect campaign and win the continued business of this new client. We all looked at our project manager, who was with us now for six whole months, like he had lost his mind. Why not team A? They had twice the experience and were always the group chosen to woo new clients with their work. Surely they were a safer choice. Why risk the client on us?

Our project manager patiently explained that out team had the required diversity for this project. If ever a project demanded workforce diversity---this was it. We looked around at each other, sure enough, we referred to ourselves as the "odds and ends" we were all so different. Our writers and designers represented a mixture of newbie talent, on fire with ambition, more mature people on their second careers, and new hires who earned their stripes far away, in big city agencies. We worked okay together, but our projects so far were small cast offs from the senior teams.

Yes, the project manager continued, this campaign required a diversity that the more entrenched teams lacked. More of our members represented the target demographic, and the deadline demanded quick turnaround. That was one of the reasons our company had landed the project. Times were tight and potential long-term clients were nothing to sneeze at. He was confident that if we pulled together, we'd achieve the best possible outcome for everyone--- a brilliant campaign that would lure the new client onto our roster forever.

Still thinking that he was crazy, we began our work. The entire process was amazing. Our brainstorming sessions produced several great concepts that we developed eagerly. The newbies provided smart, stylish slogans, while the latecomers worked overtime to combine them with vibrant design. Our client loved it. So much so that our firm was awarded three more projects with the expectation that our team would do the required work.

Yes, our project manager was crazy. Crazy enough to go against the usual procedure and capitalize on the workforce diversity of our team to the benefit of the company. We succeeded ---with his guidance, of course.

© 2005 AlphaMeasure, Inc. - All Rights Reserved

This article may be reprinted, provided it is published in its entirety, includes the author bio information, and all links remain active.

Measure. Report. Improve your organization with AlphaMeasure employee surveys.

Josh Greenberg is President of AlphaMeasure, Inc.

AlphaMeasure provides organizations of all sizes a powerful web based method for measuring employee satisfaction, determining employee engagement, and increasing employee retention.

Launch your employee surveys with AlphaMeasure.


MORE RESOURCES:

Ethical Guidance for Pandemic Influenza
Cryptome.org
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through its National Center for Ethics in Health Care (NCEHC) invites interested parties to comment on a guidance document entitled ``Meeting the Challenge of Pandemic Influenza: Ethical Guidance for ...

and more »


Md. Sen. president expects ethics panel recommendation on Currie no later than ...
Washington Post
President Thomas V. Mike Miller says he expects an ethics panel to make recommendations regarding a former senator's failure to disclose work he did for a grocery store chain no later than next week. Miller said Wednesday that he has not discussed the ...

and more »


Molnar's appeal of ethics ruling denied
Helena Independent Record
A state district judge in Billings has upheld a ruling that Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, violated state ethics laws in 2008 and should pay nearly $20700 in fines and costs. Judge Susan Watters said in her order filed Tuesday that ...
Montana judge rules against Molnar in ethics caseGreat Falls Tribune

all 3 news articles »


Good Enough To Eat, Ritually And Ethically
The Jewish Week
Four years in the making, 'comprehensive ethical' certifier Magen Tzedek plans to complement, not compete with, kashrut. Within the next few months, consumers will probably see a small symbol — a series of Jewish stars within a white circle — next to ...

and more »


Ethics Board Takes Pass on French
Patch.com
Minutes from last week's Ethics Board meeting indicate Mayor French has been cleared of alleged violations, but reveal tensions among elected officials. By Renea Henry The City Ethics Board has cleared Mayor Doug French of any impropriety or ...

and more »


Rye ethics board clears mayor over rental property
The Journal News | LoHud.com
RYE — The city's ethics board found no preferential treatment for Mayor Douglas French in the handling of tax breaks and permit problems at his rental property — but that's not putting an end to the questions. According to the board, the house at 13 ...
Rye Ethics Board Releases Minutes, Mayor ClearThe Daily Rye

all 2 news articles »


Washington Times

Ethics panel meets for about 2 hours on senator who failed to disclose work ...
Washington Post
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland General Assembly's ethics panel has met again to consider a Prince George's County senator's failure to disclose work for a grocery store chain. The Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics met for about two hours on Tuesday.
After ethics panel meeting, no decision announced on CurrieGazette.Net: Maryland Community News Online
Currie appears before ethics panelBaltimore Sun
Maryland Senate to introduce ethics billWashington Times
WBAL Baltimore -WBAL Radio
all 52 news articles »


Ethics shortage in Florida Senate
Tampabay.com
You know the Florida Senate is in trouble when it has less regard for ethics reform than Congress does. Senate President Mike Haridopolos has used his procedural powers to kill a commonsense effort to impose a modicum of ethical standards on state ...

and more »


Christian Science Monitor

Newt Gingrich ethics investigation: 4 facts you haven't heard from him
Christian Science Monitor
In January 1997, Gingrich, then House speaker, received a “reprimand” and was required to pay $300000 to the House Ethics Committee after admitting wrongdoing. Recently, on the campaign trail, Gingrich has made a number of forceful claims about his ...
Gingrich's old ethics case gets new lifeUPI.com

all 8,246 news articles »


Sarasota Herald-Tribune

House Ethics Committee continues Vern Buchanan probe
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
The House Ethics Committee is taking more time to examine whether US Rep. Vern Buchanan violated federal law by not fully disclosing his business holdings to Congress for four years. According to new documents released on Monday, the Longboat Key ...
Ethics panel examining Rep. Buchanan over financial disclosuresThe Hill
Ethics panel punts on Vern BuchananPolitico
Ethics panel to review Fla. rep's financesMiamiHerald.com
Bradenton Herald -Washington Post -Florida Independent
all 30 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007