118 • 100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS
To remain competitive in an increasingly global society, you
need to have a diverse range of employees working at all levels.
Diversity is about difference; companies that bring to bear different
experiences and perspectives stand a greater chance of success in an
increasingly global market than those that cannot.
The idea
Society is far from homogeneous; with steep increases in the
popularity of global trade, this also applies to the majority of
industries and markets. Embracing a diverse approach helps attract
and retain the most skilled employees, and will allow your company
to benefi t from a varied pool of ideas and experiences. It is a
necessary step in enabling your company to relate to, communicate
with, and service a diverse range of customers. Diversity also has
strong links with increased productivity, innovative thinking, and
lowered risks.
Seeking to reconcile the relationship between the marketplace and
the workplace, IBM created a Global Diversity Council to deal with
issues such as multicultural awareness and tolerance, advancement
of women, integration of people with disabilities, and creating a
diverse managerial team. J. T. Childs, vice president of the Global
Workforce for Diversity, commented, “Leadership for diversity at the
top remains an IBM tradition.”
By embracing this idea, your organization can refl ect the diversity
of the markets it serves, and show commitment to a more diverse,
valuable, and enduring group of customers.