Would you like your work environment to be more rewarding, or your company to be more innovative and profitable? Adopting a diversity and inclusion program may provide the answer to these questions. We would like to take this opportunity to update members on diversity benefits and recent initiatives at the American Welding Society (AWS) on this subject. One of the greatest AWS strengths is membership diversity. Accordingly, one of our biggest challenges is to promote initiatives that embrace and promote diversity more effectively. Diversity is a valued asset that enriches the Society and the welding industry; efforts that endorse inclusion make us more innovative and successful. First, what does diversity involve? One definition of the term is the inclusion of different types of people within a group or organization. In addition, different types of diversity can be identified. Diversity of expertise involves inclusion of specialists from different disciplines on a problem solving team (Ref. 1). A good example is the design and construction of a new car model. No reasonable automobile manufacturer would undertake these tasks without including scientists, engineers, and other specialists from a variety of disciplines. In comparison, social or cultural diversity relates to involvement by people from different demographic groups within a larger group. The crucial point in appreciating the benefits of diversity is the concept of informational diversity. Members of different demographic groups carry distinct information and perspectives to the pertinent task. This concept is readily understood for diversity of expertise, such as with the new car model example. Interestingly, identical principles hold for cultural diversity. So, just what are the benefits of diversity (Ref. 2)? All humans understand intuitively that employees are more satisfied and happy when they work for organizations that accept and value their ideas and views. In turn, numerous studies have repeatedly shown that satisfied employees are more productive, innovative, and engaged, as well as less likely to take sick days or quit (Ref. 2). Given the shortage of welding professionals and competition for talent within the welding industry, it makes sense that companies embracing diversity in the workplace will enjoy greater financial success. The overwhelming consensus from many years of research by various types of scientists and business experts shows culturally diverse groups are more innovative than homogeneous groups (Refs. 1, 2). Many surveys have consistently demonstrated correlations between financial success and membership of women in top management and on corporate boards. Moreover, similar relationships exist for companies that endorse racial diversity. The results of controlled experiments show the same beneficial outcomes for cultural diversity in terms of cause and effect (Ref. 1). Findings indicate cultural diversity within a team makes members uncomfortable. It can cause uneasiness, strained interactions, lack of trust, poorer communication, and less unity — at least initially — until these barriers are broken by success. This discomfort is the driving force that provides the benefits of diversity. Interacting with people of diverse backgrounds compels team members to prepare more thoroughly, expect unfamiliar opinions, and anticipate reaching concurrence will require greater work. Given the enormous benefits of diversity outlined above, the AWS Board of Directors (BOD) has recently enacted a formal initiative on diversity and inclusion for the Society. The BOD agreed that the diversity initiative will be included in future strategic plan revisions, and it should involve promoting diversity to all AWS stakeholders. The objective of the effort is to advocate greater diversity of participation in member activities, sections, committees, and the BOD by under-represented groups, including participation in leadership positions. So far, the most tangible outcome from this program is the official formation of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Its leaders have been identified, and a draft of the mission and duties statement has been written and approved. The committee’s first gathering took place recently at the BOD meeting at AWS headquarters in May. While efforts are just starting and there is much work to be done, these steps represent an important move by AWS toward embracing diversity. Contact the AWS Membership Department if you would like to contribute in this effort. References 1. scientificamerican.com/article/ how-diversity-makes-us-smarter/ 2. saharconsulting.wordpress.com/ 2010/03/26/6-advantages-of-workplace-diversity/ EDITORIAL Embracing Diversity Thomas J. Lienert AWS Vice President and Member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee Pierrette H. Gorman AWS District 20 Director and Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee “The AWS Board of Directors (BOD) has recently enacted a formal initiative on diversity and inclusion for the Society... so far, the most tangible outcome from this program is the official formation of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.” 6 WELDING JOURNAL / JULY 2016 WJ
Welding Journal | July 2016
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