Does diversity in the work place make a business stronger?

Question

I have my opinion but would like to here yours

Answer 1

There are two forces involved with TRUE diversity, not simply superficial attributions like race, gender or sexual preference.
The benefits of cognitive diversity, where people are actually holding different perspectives beyond the superficial has been empirically shown to be the ability to perceive opportunities for change before competitors who maintain a homogenous group of decision makers. Moreover, there is a constant tension within a diverse group given that each member "sees" reality and is faced with other members who do not. As a result, the firms activities do not ossify (lose flexibility) and political feifdoms have less chance to develop.
The downside to diversity is that the more different perspectives are, the more slowly activities are adopted, even though they are more advantageuos when they are executed. People need some common assumptions to be able to cooperate and contribute to a collective goal. Otherwise they disengage and fragment into groups of like minded individuals, which defeats all of the advantages mentioned before.
The research in this area mentions an inverted "U" curve, where there needs to be some element of heterogeneity and homogeneity in cognitive differences, but too much of either kills.

"Diversity" with respect to affirmative action does offer a very mild element of cognitive differences, but logic and empirical literature make the point that black, white, asian, women, men, homo/hetero/trans sexuality differences are not terribly significant given that we all graduate from similar business schools and universities. I know this is dissapointing to the various campus groups that need to claim a distinct identity to survive. The real diversity comes from assembling people with international variety. Even US and western Europe is relatively non-diverse.

So, lame but real answer-you need diversity but not too much. Moreover, the idea of diversity amongst demographically different groups in the US is a sham fed us from political entrepreneurs to create huge artificial differences where there are only mild ones.

Answer 2

No, after 40 years of working, I have seen many flavors of the day, and most, including Diversity weakens, not strengthens business.
This is one of several reasons we have lost our global competitiveness here in the USA, and also lost most of the middle class to poverty wages.

Answer 3

No good paychecks make business stronger because a happy employee will always work better than a disgruntled employee

Answer 4

in terms of social responsibility, yes. because you are giving equal amount of opportunity to diversed workforce. also, since the workforce is diverse, there is a larger pool of right people with skills to fit the right job positions.

Answer 5

Well in theory it's supposed to. But when you see strange things going on at work between two people of the same sex, I think it weakens it.