Creating the Multicultural Organization: A Strategy for Capturing the Power of Diversity [Hardcover]

Taylor Cox Jr. (Author), Jr., Taylor Cox (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0787955841 | ISBN-13: 978-0787955847 | Publication Date: June 6, 2001 | Edition: 1

As the war for talent rages on, organizations are seeking proven methods for leveraging diversity as a resource. Creating the Multicultural Organization challenges today's organizations to stop "counting heads for the government" and begin creating effective strategies for a more positive approach to managing diversity. Using a model outlined in his earlie rworks, Taylor Cox Jr.--an associate professor at the University of Michigan Business School and president of his own consulting firm--shows readers the many practical and innovative ways that top organizations such as Alcoa effectively address diversity issues to secure and develop the talent that they need in order to succeed.


A University of Michigan Business School Series Book

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The globalization of business, the increased use of teams, and changing workforce demographics have all made managing workforce diversity a critical competency for today's organizations. But for many companies, efforts to manage diversity have produced disappointing results. This book offers proven methods that show how you can achieve breakthrough results in this often difficult and complex area. Creating the Multicultural Organization challenges organizations to move away from merely "counting heads for the government" and begin creating effective strategies for a more positive approach to managing diversity. Taylor Cox outlines the diversity challenge and the forces that drive it and then presents innovative strategies for change through leadership, research, and education. Representing a radical departure from what most organizations have done in the past, Cox's innovative, systematic five-part model for developing a diversity-competent organization shows how you can achieve measurable results on changing the climate for diversity. The book includes an integrated case study on managing diversity efforts at Alcoa, one of the world's largest companies. Chapter endnotes integrate relevant research, and each chapter of the book ends with a set of questions designed to provoke thoughtful dialogue and support action planning around the ideas presented in that chapter. Whether you're a CEO, a member of a diversity steering committee, a human resource professional, a work group manager, or a team leader, Creating the Multicultural Organization will show you how to build an environment where people from all backgrounds are respected and are able to reach their full potential in the organization-and where the power of diversity as an organizational resource is fully realized. THE AUTHORTaylor Cox Jr. is associate professor of organizational behavior and human resource management at the University of Michigan Business School. He is also founder and president of Taylor Cox and Associates, Inc., a research and consulting firm specializing in organization change and development work for clients with culturally diverse workforces and markets. One of his previous book's, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Research, and Practice, was a cowinner of the National Academy of Management's 1994 George R. Terry Book Award.

From the Back Cover

As businesses, schools, and other organizations become increasingly diverse, the people charged with creating change within these organizations need proven methods for leveraging diversity as a resource. But how do you transform an organization with a deeply rooted monolithic culture into an organization that is multicultural? This book captures leading-edge theory and practice to offer a systematic, comprehensive model for change that will help you unleash all of the human potential that exists in your organization. With detailed examples, an in-depth case study, discussion questions in each chapter, and much more, Creating the Multicultural Organization shows you how to:

• Understand why many past efforts to manage diversity have failed
• Implement strong leadership of diversity change efforts
• Leverage research and develop measurement plans
• Create effective ongoing education
• Align management practices and policies with the goals of multiculturalism
• Follow through to ensure sustainable results

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (June 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787955841
• ISBN-13: 978-0787955847
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Strategy & Competition

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Customer Reviews

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "E pluribus unum"...and Vice Versa, December 11, 2001

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Creating the Multicultural Organization: A Strategy for Capturing the Power of Diversity (Hardcover)

This is one of the volumes which comprise the University of Michigan Business School Management Series. According to Paul H. O'Neill in the Foreword, this book "captures the leading-edge theory and practice on how to leverage diversity for the benefit of individuals and the organizations in which they work." It does indeed. Cox organizes his excellent material within seven chapters:

1. The Challenge of Managing Diversity

2. for Meeting the Challenge

3. leadership: The First Requirement of Change

4. Leverage Research, Develop Measurement Plans

5. Create Effective Education

6. Align Organizational Systems and Practices

7. Follow Up for Sustainable Results A Strategy

As you can see, Cox presents the material within a logical sequence inorder to achieve several specific objectives: to offer a systematic, comprehensive model for change as well as to provide data on the results of using that method; to include detailed examples to illustrate all of his main ideas; to include, also, an integrated case study on managing diversity efforts in one of the world's largest companies Alcoa, Inc.); meanwhile, to integrate relevant research with chapter endnotes; and finally, to raise questions in each chapter for discussion and further learning. He fully achieves all of these objectives.

Cox defines diversity as "the variation of social and cultural identities among people existing together in a defined employment or market setting." Many of the largest organizations have operations located throughout the world. They are by nature "multicultural." Other, probably smaller organizations are now involved in globalization initiatives and have become (or will soon become) "multicultural." Still other organizations, perhaps even smaller, may not be (according to Cox's definition) "multicultural" but they do business with organizations which are; it is in their best interests to have a strategy (or combination of strategies) to capture, manage, and then sustain what Cox calls "the power of diversity." I strongly urge decision-makers in all of these organizations to read Cox's book because all of the subjects, covered so well in logical sequence, can also serve as agenda items during the strategic planning process.

One of the book's greatest value-added benefits consists of various "Tables" and clusters of bullet points which Cox includes within a fast-paced but comprehensive narrative. For example, Table 3.1 (in Chapter 1) which provides seven examples of strong leadership behavior or Table 6.1 (in Chapter 6) which lists "primary climate factors" to be aligned with diversity. Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out the other volumes in the series. With regard to other relevant resources which readers may need for additional study of this important subject, Cox includes a number of excellent recommendations within the "Notes" section.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book!, September 4, 2010

By 

Grad Student - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Creating the Multicultural Organization: A Strategy for Capturing the Power of Diversity (Hardcover)

Interesting book. I had to read it for a class, and it brought up some interesting points. Very easy reading.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Awful Reading, January 19, 2010

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Troy Beaver "firedude" (Houston tx) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Creating the Multicultural Organization: A Strategy for Capturing the Power of Diversity (Hardcover)

This book was required reading for a promotional exam. It was by far the WORST book I have ever read in my life. It is written by a pompous author who wants to sell his views and his personal "consulting business". There were only 10 questions on my exam...I wish I would have not even studied it. If you are a true believer in "the best person for the job, should get the job", you will find this book ridiculous and you will be sickened by his ideas. At one point, the book tells you how you make your employees feel/think "the way they should". As if, we have lost our free thinking when we work for a company. The author pulls most of his "facts" out of his incredibly narrow studies of a few companies (mainly ALCOA-which was referenced about 1000 times). He also uses unneeded, difficult words to attempt to make himself look like a scholar. It doesn't work!