BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations Course Syllabus Course Description Presentation of the personal and organizational implications of increasing workforce diversity. Exploration of the complex dynamics of ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in organizations as seen from the vantage point of social science and organizational studies. Examination of the managerial implications of increasing cultural diversity in organizations, and the orientations to diversity adopted by organizations, the correlates of these approaches, and the possibilities for organization change. Course Textbook Bell, M. P. (2012). Diversity in organizations (2nd ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western. Course Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Explain recent and projected changes in the demographic makeup of the U.S. population. 2. Discuss the benefits of organizational diversity. 3. Explain the historical background of and rationale behind specific diversity-related legislation. 4. Identify and describe the major pieces of federal antidiscrimination legislation. 5. Discuss events in several egregious diversity-related lawsuits against companies in the United States and speculate on reasons for the persistence of discrimination. 6. Describe thought processes related to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. 7. Differentiate between in-group favoritism and out-group bias. 8. Understand research findings on evidence of access and treatment discrimination for each type of ethnic minority. 9. Examine diversity data in education, participation rates, employment, and income levels. 10. Discuss methods that can be used to improve organizational cultures for gender equity. 11. Discuss ways in which employers can accommodate religious practices of employees and applicants. 12. Define ageism and discuss misconceptions about the performance and abilities of older and younger workers. 13. Discuss ways in which employers can make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. 14. Discuss the effects of employer child and elder care assistance on employee satisfaction and turnover. 15. Describe the applicable federal legislation relevant to weight and appearance discrimination and whether the obese should be a protected class. 16. Describe any applicable federal legislation relevant to sexual orientation and whether gays, lesbians, and bisexuals should be a protected class. Credits Upon completion of this course, the students will earn three (3) hours of college credit. Course Structure 1. Unit Learning Outcomes: Each unit contains Unit Learning Outcomes that specify the measurable skills and knowledge students should gain upon completion of the unit. 2. Unit Lesson: Each unit contains a Unit Lesson, which discusses lesson material. 3. Reading Assignments: Each unit contains Reading Assignments from one or more chapters from the textbook. Units I, II, III and VII provide Supplemental Readings to aid students in their course of study. Suggested Further Readings are listed in Unit VII. The readings themselves are not provided in the course, but students are BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 1
encouraged to read the resources listed if the opportunity arises as they have valuable information that expands upon the lesson material. 4. Learning Activities (Non-Graded): This non-graded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study in Units I-VIII. 5. Key Terms: Key Terms are intended to guide students in their course of study. Students should pay particular attention to Key Terms as they represent important concepts within the unit material and reading. 6. Unit Assessments: This course contains six Unit Assessments, one to be completed at the end of units I, II, III, V, VII, and VIII. Assessments are composed of written response questions. 7. Unit Assignments: Students are required to submit for grading Unit Assignments in Units IV, and VI. Grading rubrics are included with the Unit IV and VI Assignments. Specific information about accessing these rubrics is provided below Specific information and instructions regarding these assignments are provided below. 8. Final Project: Specific information and instructions regarding this assignment are provided below. A grading rubric is included with this assignment. Specific information for accessing this rubric is included below. 9. Ask the Professor: This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content related questions. 10. Student Break Room: This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. CSU Online Library The CSU Online Library is available to support your courses and programs. The online library includes databases, journals, e-books, and research guides. These resources are always accessible and can be reached through the library webpage. To access the library, log into the mycsu Student Portal, and click on CSU Online Library. You can also access the CSU Online Library from the My Library button on the course menu for each course in Blackboard. The CSU Online Library offers several reference services. E-mail (library@columbiasouthern.edu) and telephone (1.877.268.8046) assistance is available Monday Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. The library s chat reference service, Ask a Librarian, is available 24/7; look for the chat box on the online library page. Librarians can help you develop your research plan or assist you in finding relevant, appropriate, and timely information. Reference requests can include customized keyword search strategies, links to articles, database help, and other services. Assignments Unit IV Research Paper Research two companies in the Fortune 500 that offer partner benefits. Compare and contrast the companies as you answer the following questions: How do the requirements for coverage for domestic partners, such as length of the relationship compare with requirements for benefits of married couples? Do companies usually require a waiting period after dissolution of a marriage (divorce) before a new spouse can become eligible for benefits? What factors, such as legislation, may influence the inclusion of these stipulations? Can any of the terms you defined above be applied to either company based on other information you learned about them? Why, or why not? Use the following terms in your discussion and include appropriate examples for each one: Glass walls Sticky floor Glass escalator Write a minimum three-page paper using APA formatting, and include in-text citations and reference page. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below. BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 2
Unit VI PowerPoint Presentation Create a 7 10 slide PowerPoint presentation aimed at convincing an employer to seek a diversified target group of workers. Suggestions for topics to include are listed below: Male vs. Female Ratio Organizational Culture (ethnic/education) Organizational commitment to vetting of employees Job Security/Employee Turnover Theories of Employee Motivation and Work Performances Each slide must contain speaker s notes; use the slide notes function. You may use various reliable sources, including your textbook. NOTE: Unmonitored Websites such as Wikipedia are not acceptable sources. Be sure to cite any sources used in a reference slide, using proper APA formatting. Cover and reference slides do not count in the required number of slides. For guidelines on creating effective PowerPoint presentations, click here to view the PDF. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below. Final Project PowerPoint Presentation This assignment provides an opportunity for you to apply what you have learned in this course to prepare a professional PowerPoint presentation, such as one you might present to coworkers when discussing discrimination. Select ONE of the options below as the subject for your final project. Do your research, and then develop a PowerPoint presentation to demonstrate your understanding of the topic. Use the slide notes function to explain slide contents as necessary. Your presentation must include at least the information presented under each heading. It must consist of a minimum of 20 PowerPoint slides, excluding the title and reference slides. Use proper APA formatting when citing sources, including your textbook. (Remember that unmonitored Internet sources, such as Wikipedia, are not acceptable.) If you need to review guidelines for effective PowerPoint presentations, the presentation is linked here. Additional information is available on the Internet. Option 1: Disability Discrimination 1. Discuss a minimum of five benefits of organizational diversity. 2. Identify at least three factors that have led to increased emphasis on disability discrimination in the workplace. 3. What are three benefits of diversity in the workplace? 4. Discuss statistical data on education, participation rates, employment, and income levels of individuals with disabilities. 5. Provide a historical background of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1963. Compare and contrast these two pieces of legislation. 6. Find two lawsuits against companies in the United States that relate to disability discrimination, and discuss their basis and their results. Do you agree with the results? 7. Why does disability discrimination persist despite legislation and other efforts to eliminate it? 8. Explain the role of stereotyping and prejudice in perpetuating in-group favoritism and out-group bias. 9. Identify three ways in which employers can make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. 10. If you had to argue for including obesity as a disability, what information would you use to support your argument, and what piece(s) of legislation would be most helpful in supporting your stance? Why? Option 2: Religious Discrimination 1. Discuss a minimum of five benefits of organizational diversity. 2. Explain at least two reasons for the increased emphasis on religious discrimination in the United States. Why is religious diversity so important for the U.S.? 3. Conduct research to determine how many different religions exist in the world. BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 3
4. Research three religious groups in the United States, and explain why these groups continue to be victims of prejudice and discrimination. 5. Identify and describe Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as it pertains to religious discrimination. 6. Discuss two cases related to religious discrimination in the United States. Provide a minimum of two reasons for the persistence of religious discrimination. 7. Describe at least two ways in which religious discrimination can lead to in-group favoritism and out-group bias. 8. Should employers provide reasonable accommodations for religious practices? Why, or why not? Please substantiate your response with legal and moral reasons. 9. Discuss at least three ways in which employers can accommodate religious practices of employees and applicants. 10. Provide a minimum of three recommendations to improve organizational cultures for religious diversity. Option 3: Gender and Sexual Preference Discrimination 1. Discuss at least five benefits of organizational diversity. 2. Provide a minimum of two reasons for the increased number of women in the workplace in the United States. How would employer-provided child and elder care impact this segment of the work force? 3. Explain the historical background of gender discrimination in the United States. 4. Provide employment data, educational attainment, and income levels for women and sexual minorities in the workplace. 5. Describe the basic purpose of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. 6. Define sexual orientation. Should sexual orientation be protected under federal legislation? Please justify your response. 7. Although sexual orientation is not protected by federal legislation, is it acceptable to discriminate against sexual minorities because of their preferences? 8. Define sex discrimination, and provide at least one example. 9. Define the two types of sexual harassment and provide an example of each. 10. Discuss case details for two lawsuits: one involving sex discrimination in the United States and one involving sexual harassment in the United States. 11. Provide at least two reasons for the pervasiveness of sex discrimination in the workplace. 12. Provide a minimum of three recommendations to improve organizational cultures for gender equity and sexual minorities. Option 4: Racial Discrimination 1. Discuss a minimum of five benefits of organizational diversity. 2. How have changes in the racial makeup of the U.S. population impacted racial discrimination? 3. Explain the historical background of race in America and the concept of White privilege. 4. Discuss affirmative action and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as it relates to race in America. What are the major components of each piece of legislation? 5. Compare and contrast two racial groups in America on the basis of employment, education, and income levels. 6. Provide case information on a minimum of two lawsuits related to race discrimination in the United States. 7. Discuss a minimum of three reasons for the persistence of racial discrimination in America. 8. Explain how racial discrimination can lead to in-group favoritism and out-group bias in the workplace. 9. Provide a minimum of three recommendations to improve organizational cultures for racial equality. Option 5: Age Discrimination 1. Discuss a minimum of five benefits of organizational diversity. 2. Explain recent and projected changes in the demographic makeup of the U.S. population as they relate to age discrimination. 3. Why has age become such a major topic in the American workforce? 4. Define and discuss the major components of the Age in Discrimination Employment Act. 5. Provide employment, education, and income levels of workers over the age of 40 in the United States. 6. Provide case information on a minimum of two lawsuits related to age discrimination in the United States. 7. Define ageism and discuss misconceptions about the performance and abilities of older and younger workers. 8. Discuss methods that can be used to improve organizational culture for the aging workforce. Information about accessing the Blackboard Grading Rubric for this assignment is provided below. BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 4
APA Guidelines The application of the APA writing style shall be practical, functional, and appropriate to each academic level, with the primary purpose being the documentation (citation) of sources. CSU requires that students use APA style for certain papers and projects. Students should always carefully read and follow assignment directions and review the associated grading rubric when available. Students can find CSU s Citation Guide in the mycsu Student Portal by clicking on the Citation Resources link in the Learning Resources area. This document includes examples and sample papers and provides information on how to contact the CSU Success Center. Grading Rubrics This course utilizes analytic grading rubrics as tools for your professor in assigning grades for all learning activities. Each rubric serves as a guide that communicates the expectations of the learning activity and describes the criteria for each level of achievement. In addition, a rubric is a reference tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts to meet the requirements of that learning activity. It is imperative for you to familiarize yourself with these rubrics because these are the primary tools your professor uses for assessing learning activities. Rubric categories include: (1) Assessment (Written Response) and (2) Assignment. However, it is possible that not all of the listed rubric types will be used in a single course (e.g., some courses may not have Assessments). The Assessment (Written Response) rubric can be found embedded in a link within the directions for each Unit Assessment. However, these rubrics will only be used when written-response questions appear within the Assessment. Each Assignment type (e.g., article critique, case study, research paper) will have its own rubric. The Assignment rubrics are built into Blackboard, allowing students to review them prior to beginning the Assignment and again once the Assignment has been scored. This rubric can be accessed via the Assignment link located within the unit where it is to be submitted. Students may also access the rubric through the course menu by selecting Tools and then My Grades. Again, it is vitally important for you to become familiar with these rubrics because their application to your Assessments and Assignments is the method by which your instructor assigns all grades. Communication Forums These are non-graded discussion forums that allow you to communicate with your professor and other students. Participation in these discussion forums is encouraged, but not required. You can access these forums with the buttons in the Course Menu. Instructions for subscribing/unsubscribing to these forums are provided below. Once you have completed Unit VIII, you MUST unsubscribe from the forum; otherwise, you will continue to receive e-mail updates from the forum. You will not be able to unsubscribe after your course end date. Click here for instructions on how to subscribe/unsubscribe and post to the Communication Forums. Ask the Professor This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content questions. Questions may focus on Blackboard locations of online course components, textbook or course content elaboration, additional guidance on assessment requirements, or general advice from other students. Questions that are specific in nature, such as inquiries regarding assessment/assignment grades or personal accommodation requests, are NOT to be posted on this forum. If you have questions, comments, or concerns of a nonpublic nature, please feel free to email your professor. Responses to your post will be addressed or emailed by the professor within 48 hours. Before posting, please ensure that you have read all relevant course documentation, including the syllabus, assessment/assignment instructions, faculty feedback, and other important information. BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 5
Student Break Room This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Communication on this forum should always maintain a standard of appropriateness and respect for your fellow classmates. This forum should NOT be used to share assessment answers. Grading Assessments (6 @ 7%) = 42% Unit IV Research Paper = 18% Unit VI PowerPoint Presentation = 15% Final Project = 25% Total = 100% Course Schedule/Checklist (PLEASE PRINT) The following pages contain a printable Course Schedule to assist you through this course. By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 6
BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations Course Schedule By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. Please keep this schedule for reference as you progress through your course. Unit I Diversity Theories and Legislation Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Theories and Thinking about Diversity Chapter 3: Legislation Unit II Blacks and Whites Chapter 4: Blacks/African Americans Chapter 7: Whites/European Americans Unit III Hispanics, Asians, American Indians, and Other Ethnic Minorities Chapter 5: Latinos/Hispanics Chapter 6: Asians/Asian Americans Chapter 8: American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Multiracial Group Members BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 7
BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations Course Schedule Unit IV Sex and Gender Discrimination Chapter 9: Sex and Gender Chapter 11: Sexual Orientation Research Paper Unit V Age and Disability Discrimination Chapter 13: Age Chapter 14: Physical and Mental Ability Unit VI Work, Family, and Religion Chapter 10: Work and Family Chapter 12: Religion PowerPoint Presentation Unit VII Discrimination Based on Appearance Chapter 15: Weight and Appearance Suggested Further Reading: See Study Guide BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 8
BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations Course Schedule Unit VIII International Diversity Chapter 16: International Diversity and Facing the Future Final Project BSL 4000, Managing Diversity in Organizations 9