Homework: Managing Diversity
Overview
Write an executive report of 4 to 5 pages that analyzes the role of diversity in an underperforming community program, unit, or department, and outline a plan for providing ongoing training on cultural awareness, inclusion, and sensitivity to current employees.
This Homework provides an opportunity to determine how you can help advance your professional field by developing a strategy for managing diversity that recognizes the synergy achieved by having a diverse and inclusive workforce.
By successfully completing this Homework, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and Homework criteria:
1) Competency I: Explain the concepts, principles, and characteristics of effective health care leadership.
a. Determine the influence of effective leadership on the development of a diverse and culturally competent workforce.
2) Competency II: Analyze standards of professional ethics and the principles of diversity and inclusion as applied by health care leaders in real-world situations.
a. Outline a plan to recruit, hire, and retain a diverse workforce.
b. Outline a plan for providing employee training on cultural awareness and sensitivity.
c. Explain the benefits of a diverse and culturally competent workforce to a health care organization and the community it serves.
3) Competency III: Determine the influence of the practitioner-scholar role on professional practice and leadership development.
a. Explain how the academic and research skills one develops as a practitioner-scholar can be of service in one's role as a health care leader.
4) Competency IV: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style, consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
a. Write coherently to support a central idea, using correct grammar, mechanics, and APA formatting.
Instructions
Use the following case study as the basis of this Homework.
Imagine you are the manager of a new health care facility satellite office or community outreach center located in a diverse neighborhood. The parent organization opened the facility to address the underserved health care needs of the culturally diverse residents who were not using the services offered at the main facility. The first month of operation saw a very high volume of patients, but since then, the numbers have dropped off drastically. Executive leadership wants to understand why this has happened and what you plan to do about it.
After careful examination of all aspects of the facility, and talking with some of the neighborhood residents, you have determined that the residents do not feel comfortable coming to the facility because the staff does not represent the diversity of the neighborhood. Staff members were hired for their skill, but their diversity was not considered. Now, you must report to executive leadership what you have learned and how you intend to manage diversity.
Note: Remember, you can submit all or a portion of your draft to Smarthinking for feedback before you submit the final version of your proposal for this Homework. However, be mindful of the turnaround time for receiving feedback if you plan on using this free service.
Report Content
1) Outline a plan to recruit, hire, and retain a more diverse workforce. Note: Your outline should be a high-level overview of a plan, not a detailed plan. Other courses in your program will go into human resource practices and diversity in depth. In drafting your plan, consider the following questions:
a. How does a leader develop a diverse workforce?
b. Where will you look for more diverse employees? Will you post job ads?
c. What will the interviewing and hiring process look like? Who will do the interviewing? Who will make the final decisions?
d. What kind of incentives will you offer diverse employees to retain them? What do you need to know about the culture and values of diverse employees before developing a retention plan?
e. How will you address issues related to diversity that result in conflict?
2) Outline a plan for the ongoing training and professional development of existing staff in cultural awareness and sensitivity. Consider how your plan can:
a. Improve communications and interpersonal skills.
b. Help overcome bias and resistance to change.
3) Explain the benefits, to both the organization and the community it serves, of having a diverse and culturally competent workforce.
a. Explain the relationship between health care organizations and communities.
b. Explain the role that diversity plays in providing culturally competent care and access for the under-served in a community.
4) Determine the influence of effective leadership on the development of a diverse and culturally competent workforce.
a. Explain the importance of cultural competence for leaders in an organization.
5) Explain how the academic and research skills you develop as a practitioner-scholar can serve you in your role as an effective health care leader.
a. Explain how those skills might contribute to your credibility and effectiveness as a leader.
b. Explain how those skills might prepare you to lead a diverse workforce.
Questions to Consider
As you prepare to complete this Homework, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, a family member, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as part of your Homework.
1) How well does the workforce within your organization reflect the diversity of the community?
2) Are the needs of the community well served by the organization?
3) Have you ever observed or experienced situations of prejudice or bias by a coworker? How did you respond to the situation?
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.