Organizational diversity refers to processes and programs that raise awareness of diversity and enhance an organization's ability to leverage diversity. In contrast, affirmative action primarily concerns compliance with government guidelines regarding the inclusion of women and members of underrepresented ethnic groups in personnel decisions. Both value increasing representational diversity so that the workforce represents a consumer base or a geographic region. However, organizational diversity initiatives emphasize the global nature of the economy, involve broader efforts to increase the diversity competence of employees, and recognize the need to increase employees' abilities to work with others who are different from them in one way or another.

Much organizational diversity work is housed in human resource departments, and many of these efforts focus on race, ethnicity, and gender. However, ...