Best Practices Diversity Series Offers Insights.

The Network of Executive Women has launched its 2005 Diversity Best Practices Series with a white paper on the business benefits of gender diversity in management.

The 1,500-word report, “Leveraging Management Diversity for Competitive Advantage,” outlines the challenge facing the CPG/retail industry while suggesting ten steps companies can make toward greater gender diversity in their top ranks.

Among the steps: Support diversity management from the top; create a gender diversity master plan; train and promote from within; support networking, mentoring and affinity programs; and benchmark results with measurable metrics.

“Management diversity is a business imperative, especially in light of the fact that three-quarters of the American population and nearly two-thirds of the nation’s workforce is comprised of women and minorities,” says Kimberly Betts, NEW’s president and communications director of Ahold USA. “This report presents the business case for diversity in clear and concise terms.”

Progress slow

The white paper points out that progress in executive diversity has been slow, especially for women. While women make up 50 percent of the managerial/professional workforce, their share of senior executive positions has actually decreased in recent years. According to an analysis of U.S. Census data, they held 32 percent of top jobs in 1990, but just 19 percent of these positions in 2000.

“Imagine the talent and creativity lost when women employees don’t reach their full potential,” Betts says. “Gender diversity could be worth billions to American business.”

The white paper lists numerous business benefits derived directly from diversity, including an expanded executive talent pool, increased input to decision making, improved affinity with customers, higher productivity and morale, increased employee retention, expanded sales networks, and fewer grievances.

Action plan

“Most executives are on board with diversity,” Betts says. “They just don’t know how to get there from here. This white paper is part of NEW’s effort to assist our industry partners by presenting the business case for management diversity and a concrete action plan they can follow.

The actions complement the Network’s “Diversity Scorecard,” which helps NEW corporate sponsors coordinate their company diversity efforts with the Network’s programs.

Executive Director Joan Toth said the report “Leveraging Management Diversity for Competitive Advantage” is just one of several efforts that will be launched in 2005 to assist NEW sponsors and members “realize the full potential of management diversity.” In addition to the white paper series, NEW will continue to consult and advise its members on diversity issues and “champion the cause of industry diversity.”

For more information at http://www.networkofexecutivewomen.com