The management of diversity is not of equal importance in all cultures. Some cultures are homogeneous, for example, Japan, and diversity is not an issue. By comparison other cultures are diverse, such as Germany, but display relatively little concern with the management of differences among ethnic, religious, or racial groups. Yet other cultures such as the United States are very diverse and have social policies and laws designed for treating all groups equitably. In addition, the workforce in the United States will become more diverse creating challenges for developing ways for dissimilar people to work together effectively.

With increasing globalization and the spread of transnational corporations, it is likely that diversity will become an issue in more cultures. It is important for managers to understand the implications of diversity and find ways to manage it. Cultural diversity is a core issue for understanding international organizational behavior.

Using the following Web sites examine how organizations in various cultures view diversity and what policies and human resource practices they use to manage it.

1. Diversity Database
   http://www.inform.umd.edu
   The University of Maryland's database contains local, national, and international academic material relating to the following areas of diversity as defined by the Office of Human Relations at the University of Maryland at College Park: age, class, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
   
   
2. Prejudice in Society
   http://www.eburg.com/beyond.prejudice/Related.html
   This site links to Web sites related to prejudicial issues.
   
   
3. Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity
   http://www.affirmativeaction.org/
   http://www.eeoc.gov/
   These sites link to Internet resources for affirmative action and equal employment opportunity.
   
   

Discuss the following questions in groups of five to six students and then report the group's conclusions to the entire class.

• What are practical ways that prejudice can be recognized and constructively managed in organizations?
  
  
• What are some of the programs identified in the Web sites that corporations use to increase diversity?
  
  
• What are some of the programs mentioned in the Web sites that corporations use to manage diversity?