In this day and age of diversity it is important that Fortune 500 companies do their best to maintain and manage their employees effectively. Respecting diversity and accommodating all features involved helps in increasing not only the productivity of an individual but also of the company. This essay speaks about Microsoft and its diversity policy.Diversity Vision StatementMicosoft’s Diversity Vision Statement (2007) aims at establishing itself as a global leader in the area of diversity by driving “global executive leadership, engagement, and accountability and by increasing workforce diversity at all levels, building value and commitment for work-life balance, and building capabilities for people and organizations.”Diversity ValuesMicrosoft’s Diversity Values (2007) aims at building a workforce that is multicultural which helps them in making innovative decisions for Microsoft’s diverse customers and partners. Another is innovations that help in lowering the costs of technology.
The next being leadership, that is displayed in supporting other communities.Reasons for DiversityThe company has a three component business case that aims at promoting diversity. They are as follows,“1) Talent. Microsoft seeks to attract and retain the best and brightest employees.
This enables us to gain a competitive advantage in the new emerging markets.2) Customers. If we truly want to have a compelling value proposition for our customers, we must understand the rich diversity of our customer base.3) Innovation.
We work to build innovative products for an increasingly diverse customer base by using the diverse talents, ideas, and perspectives of our employees.” (Why Diversity Matters at Microsoft 2007)Programs and InitiativesMicrosoft is a very huge company with workforce spread all over the world. For a company to grow it is important that the companies adopts a tolerant and secular approach to meet the challenges it faces in dealing with diversity both in employees as well as in customers and partners. The company has made the initiative to put into place programs that will help it to achieve their diversity vision.
These programs and initiatives (Programs and Initiatives 2007) are mentioned as follows,Accessibility at MicrosoftThe Accessibility program at Microsoft aims at supporting the contributions of and capabilities of disable people. They provide assistive technology and study to determine the best methods and techniques for the employee, so that they can work comfortably and satisfactorily (Accessibility at Microsoft 2007).Awards and RecognitionMany of the programs, initiatives and products by Microsoft have been rightly rewarded by other organisations. Some of the awards in the year 2007 are as follows, “Named among the 2007 Top Supporters of HBCU Engineering by BlackEngineer.com, Dean's List: Top Supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by US Black Engineer and Information Technology, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Above and Beyond Award, 2007 International Foundation for Gender Awareness Award, Hispanic Business Top 100, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's list of the 100, Best Adoption-friendly Workplaces for 2007, 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2007, The Corporate Responsibility Officer and Business Ethics magazine, Corporation of the Year Award, Northwest Minority Business Council, International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) Diversity Award in recognition for Transgender inclusion benefit policies.
” (Awards and Recognition 2007).College Diversity ProgramsMicrosoft aims at attracting minorities and women by supporting them. Their campus recruitment focuses on “historically underrepresented institutions”. The company also sponsors and events at institutions to promote their diversity vision. Many students have got an opportunity to study, train and work under these initiatives and have benefited tremendously (College Diversity programs. 2007).
Diversity InvestingMicrosoft has developed a “minority investment program” in 2000 that seeks ways to distribute investments into “smaller, underserved communities”. These investments enable underprivileged communities and businesses. The company now has “nearly $50 million of unsecured deposits in minority-owned banks and direct more than $1 billion of investment business volume to minority-owned brokers and asset managers.” (Diversity Investing. 2007).
Diversity RecruitingMicrosoft concentrates on giving employment opportunities to diverse people such as “African Americans, Brazilians, Chinese, Dads, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Filipinos, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Employees, Hellenics, Hispanics, Indians, Koreans, Malaysians, Native Americans, Pakistanis, Singaporeans, Single Parents, Taiwanese, Visually Impaired Persons in MS (MSVIP), Women and Working Parents” (Pride in Diversity/Overview 2007).Diversity Advisory CouncilsThe company provides Diversity Advisory Councils to help the employees “foster diversity and inclusion”. The council meets regularly to discuss and plan strategies, share resources as the different ways to “provide career development, support, networking opportunities, mentoring, community participation, product input, and assistance in activities that promote cultural awareness.” (Pride in Diversity/Overview 2007).
Diversity Conferences and EventsThe company participates in regular conferences and events related to diversity, wherein they brief prospective employees of the company policy in diversity (Diversity Conferences and Events.2007).Diversity Partners and OutreachDiverse communities have helped Microsoft be what it is today an extremely successful enterprise, therefore Microsoft’s sees diversity in partners and outreach as an opportunity to give back to society what it has received. Microsoft says “Professional, Youth, Disability, National, and Community Outreach Program as a way of strengthening ties and growing talent—talent that we hope one day will further the advances of the high-tech industry” (Partners and Outreach 2007).
OthersThere are other programs and initiatives such as Supplier Diversity, Diversity Education, WorkLife Balance and Youth Programs. All these initiatives concentrating on making the employee’s work experience at the company fruitfully and pleasant.ConclusionMicrosoft is one of the foremost successful companies in the area of information technology, product development and services. It has got corporate presence all over the world, with huge number of people employed.
The company is tremendously successful and there has been a satisfactory increase in employee and customer satisfaction. It has been seen that outcomes of their initiative is widely appreciated and recognized by the employees themselves, other companies and organizations who have evaluated them.The measurement criteria have been an internal system that is based on methods and techniques that is suitable for the employee and company growth. All its program initiatives have been very successful and fruitful for the employees as well as the company. All their efforts can be clearly seen in their stock market prices and their growing clientele. The main reason for company success is employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction; two sets of people that different in every ways.
