Product Description

What could an elephant and a giraffe teach people about working together? Some very important lessons, it seems, about the complex - and critically important - issues of dealing with diversity in the workforce.
Building a House for Diversity begins with a short fable about how a friendship between the two animals is threatened when the house built for a tall, skinny giraffe cannot accommodatehis invited guest, a broad, bulky elephant. Using this story as a vivid metaphor for the difficult issues inherent in diversity, the book goes on to demonstrate how managing diversity can be seen as a set of skills that anyone can learn and use.
In a way that makes diversity management up close and personal, Building a House for Diversity offers compelling, real-life stories of individual experiences at work. It includes:
* The perspective of both insiders (usually white males) and outsiders (usually minorities or women)
* Insightful commentary illuminating what these experiences tell us about the challenges and opportunities of diversity
* A particularly interesting segment on Phil Jackson, legendary Chicago Bulls coach, and how he dealt with diversity issues in his relationships to Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippin, and others
* Hands-on guidance to help readers become diversity mature and take personal responsibility for their attitudes and actions.
Throughout, the book reflects the seminal thinking of R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., a pioneer in articulating the concepts of managing diversity. In this book, he has produced his most creative and practical approach to this continuing challenge.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #441167 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-27
• Released on: 2003-08-27
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.02" h x 6.34" w x 9.24" l, 1.23 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 276 pages

Review

"Building a House for Diversity is a must-read."

-"Business Report & Journal "(Savannah, GA)

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