Demographic Factors
Demographic changes, technology, and globalization are changing the economic landscape in which organizations do business. Managing the rapidly changing demographic requires competent communications across cultural, ethnic, and geographical boundaries (diversitymagazine.com, 2009). The impact of the growing and changing demographic effects individual performance, employee turnover, and profits. Cultural diversity in the workplace drives competition, increases innovations, and drives profit, which are key factors for gaining the competitive edge (diversitymagazine.com, 2009).
After benchmarking companies for the best practices in managing unique demographic factors, the team paper will identify the effect of each demographic factor on management planning, the best practice for conflict management as it relates to the demographic factor, and the organization’s reward or motivation for groups for each demographic factor.
Office Max
Leader in business to business office products solutions and retail office products, Office Max provides office supplies, and paper, in store print and document service, technology products, and solutions, and furniture to consumers and to large, medium, and small businesses (OMX, Inc., 2008).
Office Max’s unique demographic is the handy work of CEO, Sam Duncan. Duncan, the recent recipient of Best Practices 2009 Diversity Leadership Award, objective at Office Max is developing an inclusive culture where all associates feel comfortable and confident coming to work as their true selves. Duncan further thinks this practice will garner the best people and ideas (diversity bestpractice.com, 2009). Creating a new corporate culture with diversity being a fundamental value for the company, Duncan established the Office of Diversity.
The company supports race, sex, and gender demographics in a unique way. For example, Office Max, instituted domestic partner benefits for associates companywide. The organization also...