Hi! Thanks for the question.
An effective way to answer your questions is by looking at articles
about and samples of workplace diversity initiative programs. Whenever
possible and appropriate, I will provide small snippets from the
articles I will cite but since some of the resources here are detailed
programs, I will just post the link so you can read them thoroughly.
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DEVELOPING WORKPLACE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE PROGRAMS:
Our initial articles provide useful guidelines in developing workplace
diversity initiative programs. Some resources here are from Australia
but the general principles can be applied to any country or workplace
setting.
?Workplace diversity must be viewed as a means to attaining
organisational objectives not an end in itself. Activities undertaken
in developing a Workplace Diversity Program interact with corporate
and business strategies. This link between the business objectives and
processes of the organisation and the workplace diversity strategy is
crucial to the success of workplace diversity initiatives.?
?A Workplace Diversity Program is concerned with the incremental
improvement of human resource management. Essentially there are three
phases in any management improvement cycleplanning, implementation and
evaluation?
?Before embarking on the planning process, the Workplace Diversity
Coordinator will need to establish and agree on the management
framework for the process.?
?Because workplace diversity is strategically important to achieving
business outcomes, it needs to be viewed as part of an integrated
planning and management effort. A crucial component of a successful
diversity effort requires the sponsorship, commitment, support and
leadership of the agency head. Good practice suggests that top
management should oversee the diversity process.?
?Workplace Diversity Practitioner's Handbook?
http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications98/practicehandbook4.htm
?With an increasing number of companies starting to view diversity and
inclusion initiatives as business imperatives, certain core success
factors have started to emerge. Several of these factors are
highlighted in a landmark report, Best Practices in Achieving
Workforce Diversity, by the National Partnership for Reinventing
Government (NPR) Diversity Task Force. The task force?s study team
identified and carefully analyzed 65 companies, public and private,
that were recognized for their efforts in achieving workforce
diversity and inclusiveness. Some of the common success factors
uncovered during the study include:?
?Leadership commitment. The study found that companies with the best
diversity and inclusion initiatives have managers who ?champion
diversity by infusing it into all organizational processes and
ensuring that diversity is integrated into the core values of the
organization.??
?Diversity goals tied to key business processes. As stated in the NPR
report, ?Today?s leaders realize that in order to be effective,
successful diversity planning must be aligned with and provide support
for strategic business objectives and operational decisions.??
?Focused measurement and evaluation methods. The NPR report points
out that holistic diversity initiatives involve not only the formation
of specific goals tied to key business processes, but also solid
methods for measuring the achievement of those goals.?
?Diversity: Celebrate Difference, Strengthen Performance?
http://www.connectionsmagazine.com/articles/4/023.html
Our next link is an online guide in workplace diversity training. .
?Diversity Icebreakers: A Guide for Diversity Training?
http://www.diversityresources.com/rc04_sample/icebreak.html
Here are some example programs and guidelines to help you in
developing your diversity initiative programs.
?GUIDELINES
IMPLEMENTING A WORKPLACE
DIVERSITY PROGRAM?
http://www.ossc.tas.gov.au/cd/guidelines-wd.pdf
?Making Diversity Work in Your Workplace?
http://www2.austincc.edu/npo/downloads/SC3Q2002/MakingDiversityWork.pdf
----------------------------
MANAGEMENT:
Our next resources deal with effectively managing the implementation
of such programs.
?Effective change management is essential for a successful diversity
initiative. A manager that champions diversity will need to skillfully
manage change in a number of areas. The two most critical areas are
workplace systems and communications practices. Further, managers may
also need to look within themselves to engender the personal changes
that contribute to success.?
?Employers commonly implement business systems to achieve such
objectives as workplace safety and employee training. Similarly,
organizations should implement systems that ensure the success of
diversity programs.?
?A mentoring policy or program is one such system. Just as retention
is part of a successful recruitment strategy, mentoring is fundamental
to successful retention.?
?Achieve diversity through change management?
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1365/12_32/88582559/p1/article.jhtml
?Employers must focus on developing, supporting and changing the
environment around them to be more inclusive. That means recognizing
that managing diversity is a long-term process-and not a one shot
deal--that starts with a thorough review of policies and practices
that may be discriminatory. This includes looking at everything, from
recruitment and retention practices to mentoring programs and merit
increases, to make sure all segments of the workforce are included and
encouraged to do their best.?
?Successful diversity management begins at the top?
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1365/7_33/96954407/p1/article.jhtml?term=
A sample workplace diversity management plan is available below:
http://www.education.tas.gov.au/hrh/pdfs/11/diversitypp.pdf
The next article provides some examples of organizations exhibiting
?best practices? standards in managing workplace diversity programs.
?Best Practices in Diversity Management?
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan000715.pdf
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MONITOR:
One way to monitor workplace diversity programs is by using
performance evaluation metrics and benchmarks during the programs.
Here are different methods to monitor performace.
?According to our partners, some straightforward diversity measures include:?
?1. Employee attrition rates;?
?2. Workforce satisfaction;?
?3. Market share within new customer bases;?
?4. External awards and recognition for diversity efforts; and?
?5. Workplace climate satisfaction.?
?One partner conducts an annual organizational chart assessment to
identify its current diversity status and whether it reflects the
community it serves.?
?One partner has set specific workforce objectives. The goal is to
have a workforce that reflects the customers it serves and the
communities in which the partner organization resides.?
?One partner uses a scorecard to assess its diversity progress. The
scorecard includes three areas: (1) coaching as the tool to building
awareness around diversity and continuing the company?s goal to
mainstream diversity; (2) Workforce Representation Plan; and (3)
Employee Council Activities. Specific measurements are established for
each area at the beginning of the year. These are included in a
scorecard format that also includes a description of activities that
are supportive of the goals in each area, and a blank area in which
current results are annotated.?
?One partner created the "Managing Diversity Diagnostic Tool," a
checklist to give the business groups a template of suggested action
items to enable managers to develop their Diversity Action Plans.?
?One partner conducts an annual "Stages of Diversity" internal
diversity audit to assess each unit?s progress in achieving
diversity.?
?Linking Diversity to Strategic Plans?
http://www.diversityresources.com/rc04_sample/benchmark/chap3.pdf
Finally, a sample workplace diversity program plan in the next link
provides another way to implement monitoring of the programs
performance. The discussion about performance evaluation is available
towards the end of the document.
?WORKPLACE DIVERSITY PROGRAM?
http://66.102.11.104/search?q=cache:WmHkpvkyzqIJ:www.hcourt.gov.au/Workplace%2520diversity%2520program%252002-05.doc+performance+evaluation+%22workplace+diversity%22&hl=en
Search terms used:
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managing management "workplace diversity" programs
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I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
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Regards,
Easterangel-ga
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