Building a House for Diversity

How a Fable About a Giraffe and an Elephant Offers New Strategies for Today's Workforce

by R. Thomas, Marjorie Woodruff

On Sale: September 6, 2022

Price: $19.99

Format: Paperback

Book Summary

Building a House for Diversity begins with a short fable about how a friendship between two animals is threatened when the house built for a tall, skinny giraffe cannot accommodate a broad, bulky elephant.

About the Book

"What could an elephant and a giraffe teach people about working together? Some very important lessons, it seems, about the complex--and critically important--issues of dealing with diversity in the workforce. Building a House for Diversity begins with a short fable about how a friendship between the two animals is threatened when the house built for a tall, skinny giraffe cannot accommodate his invited guest, a broad, bulky elephant. Using this story as a vivid metaphor for the difficult issues inherent in diversity, the book goes on to demonstrate how managing diversity can be seen as a set of skills that anyone can learn and use. In a way that makes diversity management ""up close and personal,"" Building a House for Diversity offers compelling, real-life stories of individual experiences at work. It includes: * The perspective of both ""insiders"" (usually white males) and ""outsiders"" (usually minorities or women) * Insightful commentary illuminating what these experiences tell us about the challenges and opportunities of diversity * A particularly interesting segment on Phil Jackson, legendary Chicago Bulls coach, and how he dealt with diversity issues in his relationships to Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippin, and others * Hands-on guidance to help readers become ""diversity mature"" and take personal responsibility for their attitudes and actions. Throughout, the book reflects the seminal thinking of R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., a pioneer in articulating the concepts of managing diversity. In this book, he has produced his most creative and practical approach to this continuing challenge."

Product Details

  • ISBN: 9781400232413
  • ISBN 10: 1400232414
  • On Sale: September 6, 2022
  • Pages: 276
  • List Price: $19.99
  • Trim Size: 119.000mm x 182.000mm x 26.000mm
  • Category 1 : BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Women in Business
  • Category 2 : BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Workplace Culture