Diversity Action Plan for Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diversity Action Plan for Microsoft - Essay Example This is, in a way, a stand against racism and prejudice. Now, why might organizations implement this Just like every other action, this has good characteristics as well as bad ones. First of all, the biggest benefit to any organization of hiring employees from different races and ethnicities is that it creates a good impression in the minds of socialists, shareholders, the public and all other stake holders. For Microsoft, this will be especially important because multinational companies such as itself gain additional profits and other non monetary benefits such as good will only by creating a noble image in the minds of their stakeholders. Secondly, diversity leads to a greater pool of ideas. When people come from different backgrounds, they tend to think differently in terms of logic as well as innovation. For a software house such as Microsoft, it is very important to hire people who can come up with more than one way of creating software or going about a project. In other words, it helps to solve problems in more than one way. This could probably even make problem-solving easier. This then saves time and when employees save time in deciding how to solve something, they utilize the rest in producing more. This leads to an increase in productivity. Higher productivity, ultimately, generates profits for firms. A diverse workforce can understand and meet customer requirements better as the client-base is likely to be diverse also in a country like the US. This is especially true for an organization like Microsoft whose customer base is massive. Lastly, diversity helps to reduce lawsuits and increases marketing opportunities and creativity (Esty, et al., 1995). Challenges The biggest problem that diversity presents to organizations is that it causes communication problems. This happens because people come from different backgrounds. They have different accents, different ways of thinking, different ways of perceiving things, and different ways of understanding. Therefore, this causes intra- and inter-team communication barriers. Either 'diverse' employees have problems understanding the communicator, or they have problems making themselves heard. Even feedback problems are likely to occur. Some may think that having a number of ways of solving a problem is good. It leads to saving time and maybe even increased productivity. Alternatively, other might say that having too many ways of solving one problem may lead to confusion. It becomes more difficult to judge what would be a better option. Also, it gives rise to disagreements between different individuals, especially more when they are of different mores. This causes frustration amongst team members and other colleagues which further leads to a hostile and an uncomfortable environment. This could even be the cause of de-motivation of employees. There is likely to be plenty of communication problems within different groups or between individuals as it is. A difficult-to-work-in environment further leads to more communication problems. Also, cultural biases are spawned when trying to change the corporate culture. If such biases and behavior grow in frequency and intensity it can result in legal charges of discrimination, in its most serious form (Thomas, 1997). Finally, when an organization employs a diverse workforce, it becomes important to acknowledge their needs and earlier unrecognized

Funding proposal local resilienc prject Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Funding proposal local resilienc prject - Essay Example For the coastal areas, it means erosion and evacuation of people living near the coastlines. According to Dorrell, R. and Wentworth, J. (2010, p.1) UK has roughly 16,000,000 people affected by floods as of September 2010, because 30% of England and Wales live near the coastal areas. Thousands lose their power supply during heavy rains, storm, or unusually cold winter. Some die. Based on the study of Kapucu, Naim PhD. (2009), Losses amounted to billions of Sterling Pounds in 1987 alone. An ideal Local Resiliency Project should be the orchestration of Local Authorities, Community Association members, and SMEs for the planning, management, and control of provisions that will meet the needs of all community members. There are those provisions that only the government can afford to prepare. These would be the well-trained Special Rescue Forces and major equipment for rescue and evacuation of people and properties, namely, heavy duty boats, diving supplies, army trucks, helicopters, ambula nce, night vision devices. And there are infrastructures that Joint Ventures can construct on sturdy, higher grounds where people can be evacuated. Ideally, these infrastructures should consist of durable housing alternatives and the durable Storage Depot of basic needs for survival day and night. Eventually, the homeowners themselves can become shareholders of all these investments. It can start with a Grant for the organization, planning, and initial implementations. Eventually, the chosen location of the Storage Depot should accommodate alternative housing that people in lowlands can eventually own through financing schemes. Section 3. Objective of Projects & Project Outcomes (300 words ) Lancashire Coastline communities will be the immediate beneficiary of this Local Resiliency Project. This project proposal clarifies the critical needs of the community wherein a Local Resiliency Project will be launched. It will then develop a contingency plan whereby any simulated disaster or actual calamity can have an equivalent logical response that should negate the unwanted impact for most homeowners and businesses. Thus, the objectives include the following: a. To describe the community and specific location that will be involved in the creation of a Local Resiliency Project, in terms of the usual natural disturbance based on past months and years; b. To elaborate the reported consequences of those calamities in the past; c. To identify needs of the community so as to remain productive during and after the disasters; d. To describe the logical remedy along with the implications of providing a solution; e. To estimate cost of having such provisions; f. To summarize the benefits of investing on such a proposed Local Resiliency Project; g. To develop a plan of action with timetable for implementation and maintenance; h. To identify people and organizations who should be help accountable and responsible for the various stages of the project proposal; i. To prove how th is project will result in a resilient community over many years to come; j. To specify limitations of such provisions for the community. Section 4. Statement of Needs, Characteristics of Beneficiaries ( 500 words ) Large towns make up the coastal settlements of