Product Description

This text provides an "up close and personal" approach to the subject of managing diversity in the workplace. It begins with a short fable of an elephant and a giraffe, and goes on to offer real-life stories of individuals and their experiences with diversity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #350281 in Books
• Published on: 1999-06-01
• Released on: 2003-08-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 276 pages

Book Info
Within the context of a fable about giraffes and elephants, the text demonstrates the mutual adaptation that is necessary to create a diversity friendly atmosphere in corporations. DLC: Diversity in the workplace.

From the Publisher
Praise for Roosevelt Thomas's earlier book, Beyond Race and Gender:

"One of the best business books of 1991." --Library Journal

"Rich with examples, it is a superb book that merits our keen attention." --American Society for Training and Development

About the Author
R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., Ph.D. (Atlanta, GA), one of America's most respected authorities on diversity issues, is CEO of R. Thomas Consulting & Training, Inc. and founder of the American Institute for Managing Diversity. He is the author of Beyond Race and Gender and Redefining Diversity.

Marjorie I. Woodruff is Director of Curriculum Development at R. Thomas Consulting & Training, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Good intro to diversity in organizations
I have used this as a supplement to a textbook in a class on industrial organization psychology. Just about every student finds it helpful and sees it as a fresh perspective on diversity. It sets a tone for thoughtful discussions on diversity through the semester.

Finally a book that pulls it all together
Cheers to Dr. Thomas for providing a book that is one of the first -- in my opinion -- to present a clear picture of the need to address workforce, workplace and marketplace diversity. I came away understanding that to address one or two of these components without addressing the third is like commissioning a two to three mile dig, when all the geological reports tell you that oil is six miles down. Half and quarter steps will not lead to success. In the most simple straight-forward way, starting with a powerful parable, Dr. Thomas drives home the point that for true strategic benefits organizations need to make a balance commitment to the all three components.

Another great take-away from this book is Dr. Thomas's model for identifying and differentiating between business requirements and preferences.

All in all this is an extremely powerful book that should be in every manager's library. Thank you Dr. Thomas.

Joe Santana
Co-author of Manage I.T.

A Disappointing Reflection of Limits on Diversity-Thinking
I anxiously looked forward to reading this book. Given the titles of Thomas's previous books, Redefining Diversity and Beyond Race and Gender, and the title of this one I expected more than passing reference to the disability community. I was disappointed.

We are told (p.84) that "I'm becoming more aware of sexual preference and physical ability diversity as well." Although I'm not one to get hung up on word choice, others are, and those locutions aren't popular in gay, lesbian, or disability-preference communities. In the latter are millions of people with ADHD and psychiatric disabilities, and for these millions to be excluded from a "house for diversity" would make it a "house divided against itself."

A tipoff for readers is the Personal Diversity Maturity Index. The reader is asked "What is the most important reason to respond to diversity?" The preferred answer has nothing to do with justice and social change, or even with building a house that will include your neighbors, your parents, your kids, and possibly you. It's "The diversity-mature manager recognizes that diversity is good for business."