Minority Retention In Corporate America

Minority Retention In Corporate America

2009
Minority Retention: A Look at Diversity and Retaining Talented Minorities in Corporate America
A Qualitative Research paper

Abstract
This qualitative paper will examine the evolution of diversity and its effects on the Corporate America workforce.   Diversity will be described and defined.   Its concepts of compliance and inclusion will be examined and discussed about how they differ and their effects on the organization.   Several obstacles can deter an organization’s efforts in obtaining true diversity.   This paper will identify those obstacles and provide examples.   Diversity has many advantages that are well worth a well thought out diversity management plan.   Advantages to workforce diversity are numerous and will be discussed throughout this paper.   Lastly, different initiatives that a organization can implement to promote diversity will be discussed and summarized.  

Twenty years ago, you could enter into the office of any Fortune 500 company executive and you would more likely than not observe the same type of person - a Caucasian able-bodied male in a dark suit and tie in his mid- to late fifties.   Demographic trends such as worldwide trading, a rapid influx of technological advances, the demand for educated and skilled workers, an aging workforce and a greater disbursement of ethical backgrounds are transforming the workplace from this ‘cookie-cutter’ mainstay to a more diverse image.   (Judy & D’Amico, 1997)   So as this diversity surge increases, Corporate America has to identify ways in which these differences will not negatively affect the bottom line.  
The definition of diversity has changed as the employment landscape has evolved into what it is today.   It is not longer just about compliance through government sanctioned laws.   Nor is diversity just the visual characteristics such as race and gender that it once was many years ago.   Diversity was first used in the 12th century and had a negative connotation.   In 12th century...