Planning, of course, is essential to the success of any organization and activity. CMC has years of experience in conducting planning sessions for short and long term diversity initiative goals, starting and positively orienting affinity groups and helping to form diversity councils. Our third party objectivity and twenty-five years of diversity experience will ensure well grounded, but aggressive plans with solutions and action steps that are creative and attainable.
A separate strategy for diversity that is tied to the overall mission of your organization is required if the diversity initiative is to be “business case” oriented. This specifically addresses executive, management and employee training; work/family issues; supportive activities in the general environment to offer reminders about diversity concepts and other issues identified in the analysis phase of the project.
As each area is discussed and strategies are developed, specific measurements and benchmarks will be identified in order to measure progress in this area. The measurements will provide an opportunity to adjust strategies as required to meet changing employee and organizational needs. Final targets to evaluate the various areas will be included in the plan as it is created.
Following are some areas where CMC can be of help.
- Define Diversity and how it relates to your overall business mission.
- Create a Diversity Council. This involves: recruitment, selection, organization and internal structure.
- Develop a strategic plan with goals and timelines for actualizing the objectives of the committees.
- Conduct a climate study that allows the council members to understand the total work environment (employee attitudes, skill levels of management, etc.) and to set initial benchmarks for future evaluation of progress.
- Research “Best Practices” in the industry.
- Provide training for executives, managers and employees and identify appropriate next steps.
- Establish a “Communication Strategies” plan to share information, accomplishment and progress inside and outside of the organization.
- Determine ways that senior management members may show their commitment to diversity.
- Develop a process for evaluation of the initiative…as a whole and the sub-parts as well.
