More companies expand their diversity and inclusion efforts in response to globalization

According to a new online survey of more than 2,500 senior HR and training executives in the U.S. and Canada by Boston-based consulting firm Novations Group, more employers have broadened their diversity efforts because of the impact of globalization. Forty one percent of executives surveyed said their organization had either broadened the scope of its diversity and inclusion programs because of increasing globalization or planned to do so in the near future.

This is great news, especially considering the widespread fear of a coming recession, which many companies and employees already believe that the nation has entered. In such seemingly difficult economic times, one might expect companies to do the opposite and contract their diversity efforts to save money.

But it appears that more companies are acting responsibly and have learned that diversity is essential to competitive advantage in a global market. It seems that many workforces around the US are changing to reflect the diversity of a global community rather than only the diversity of their US consumers.

It is high time that employers have stepped up their diversity efforts to leverage the skills and talents of their diversity employees on a global level. The truth is that companies that fail to broaden their diversity and inclusion efforts for global competitive advantage will eventually see shrinking bottom lines and will become less and less able to attract the most qualified diversity candidates who can help them effectively reach the global market.

What surprises me about this survey is not the high percentage of companies who have broadened their diversity efforts in response to globalization combined with those who are planning to do so. Forward thinking companies who understand the necessity of diversity and globalization for growth and increased profits will do their best to combine the two in a synergistic effort.

The truly surprising issue this survey is that 35 percent of respondents actually said they had not increased their diversity and did not plan to do so in the future. It really begs the question, are they seeking a competitive disadvantage?

Nearly every US good or service is of some use to individuals and companies in other nations and cultures. Assuming that those 35 percent of executives surveyed work for a company that produces some of these useful goods or services, one would also have to assume that these companies would want a piece of the global market, particularly in emerging markets. But perhaps these respondents worked for purveyors of something like the corn dog— not exactly a crowd favorite in Asia (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter).

In all honesty, companies wishing to survive and grow as the world shrinks have no choice but to increase their effective diversity efforts to reflect the diversity of the global market they are or will eventually serve in order continue in existence. Globalization is here to stay, and technology has made international commerce simpler every day, making a diverse workforce even more critical to a company’s success.