Demographic Characteristics And Cultural Diversity

Abstract

Groups and teams are affected by many variables and factors. Being able to identify that factors that impact the groups and team success is a valuable asset in order for groups and teams to become high performance groups and teams. Every group or team leader must be aware of the demographic characteristics and the cultural diversity of the team in order to become effective.

Groups and Teams

There are many factors that affect a team's performance; from leadership and communication, to demographic characteristics and cultural diversity. Each impacts the team in its own way. With out these major factors being forced upon a team or group individuals will tend to stray focus from the mission at hand. Different Leadership styles helps guide and lead the team while communication is the key to successfully guiding and running the team. There is two type of communications a good leader will take into consideration, Is the mission 100% understood pertaining to the individuals task on the team, which is positive communication or if it apparent that there is any confusion and that the mission is not fully understood, then one can end up with negative communication. Demographic Characteristics are found in every group and in every team. They start at the top and ripple down through the team. These Characteristics can have a positive and negatively impact on a group or team.

It is up to the Leadership of the team to create a work performance standard witch will determine the outcome that the team will produce. Good leadership will integrate positive communication and guidance to his/her subordinates causing a more effective work environment. Cultural diversity is an important factor to be considered amongst the members of a team, because it brings different abilities and skills from different back grounds and cultures to the table. If approached correctly it can help a team to success and aid in a stronger standardized capable team.

A high performance organization operates in a way that brings out the best in people and produces sustainable high performance results while creating high quality of work life environments (John R. Schermerhorn). As a team, striving for higher performance and productivity must be accomplished in order to notice gains and remarkable outcomes. Set Goals is what every group and team work to accomplish. In order to achieve a high performance team or group, every team Leader must be aware on how the demographic characteristics and cultural diversity impacts them. Through effective communication a leader will know the background of the members of the team and placing them in an area that they are subject matter experts. An implied fact is that all members of a team or group will share a common interest but may not be able to accomplish or fulfill a position as well as another. Females may not be able to lift as much weight as a males or Caucasian may not speak Spanish in a Hispanic dominated area. Theses different factors will take an effect on the outcome or end results to any team or groups finial Goals. Positive results are what every group or team strives for.

A group is an assembly of three or more people gathered together for a purpose. A team is an organized group of people gathered together with the same purpose and interest; reason there is a difference between a high performance group and a high performance team. For example, in a high performance group every person in the group is performing well individually, and if this individual has high performance, it does not mean that this individual's will perform well in a team.

In a high performance team there should be increased productivity, better quality, and shortened response time. Groups should work as teams in order to control their day to day production and quality. A high performance team has participative leadership, response, have the same interest, and most important share responsibility. A high performance team must also be self directed and organized. In order for a group to become a high performance team they must focus on trust, and confidence on the team.

Some Demographic characteristics and cultural diversity are as follows:

Ð'* Ethnicity

Ð'* Gender

Ð'* Age

Ð'* Socioeconomic status

Ð'* Sexual orientation

Ð'* Religion

Ð'* Geographical differences

Ð'* personal traits

Ð'* value differences

Ð'* attitude differences

Cultural diversity impacts the group when the members are from different cultures. Different cultures have different views and core values. This can help by bring in different skills and abilities to the team, along with different point of views and options. It can help the team think out find the box. There are different areas in that cultural diversity takes place. A main place in were cultural diversity begins is first at home. As parents instill cultural values and morals the impact of it can be seen, from how the way one represents themselves, understand