Week 6 Discussion - Building diversity becomes valuing

WK6DQ

Building diversity becomes valuing diversity. So, if you value diversity, then it just becomes a part of who you are as an organization. And then you commit to it.

–Jennifer Strawley, Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Administrator, University of Miami

The demographics of the workforce are changing at a lightning pace. Sport organizations are no different. In your course text, Scott emphasizes the “importance of leaders’ embracing and actively leading diverse sport organizations” (Scott, 2014, p. 140). In order to remain competitive in the 21st century, diversity (defined broadly as the inclusion of different types of people) will continue to be an area for sport managers to address (Scott, 2014). Leadership in the future requires the ability to work with people of different races, ethnicities, religions, age, sexual preference, physical and mental abilities, appearance, and values. Sport leaders will need to embrace a work environment based on inclusion and have the ability to attract and recruit individuals who can uniquely and collectively achieve organizational goals.

Instructions Review Scott’s (2014) “Questions to Consider” on page 162 and the videos in the Learning Materials folder.

Consider Question 1: “Beyond policy and legal implications, why do you believe diversity and inclusion is a key area of importance for effectively leading a sport organization?”