The world's increasing globalization requires more interaction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds than ever before. People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are now part of a worldwide economy with competition coming from nearly every continent. For this reason, profit and nonprofit organizations need diversity to become more creative and open to change. What is workplace diversity? Workplace diversity is about acknowledging differences and adapting work practices to create an inclusive environment in which diverse skills, perspectives, and backgrounds are valued. It's about understanding the individual differences in the people we work with that arise from a broad range of backgrounds and lifestyles, and recognizing the value of using these different perspectives, ideas, and ways of working to enhance the quality and outcomes of work. Benefits of workplace diversity: An organization's success and competitiveness depend upon its ability to embrace diversity and realize the benefits. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop, and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported, such as increased adaptability, broader service range, variety of viewpoints, and more effective execution. Challenges of diversity in the workplace: Taking full advantage of the benefits of diversity in the workplace is not without its challenges. Some of those challenges are communication, resistance to change, and implementation of diversity in workplace policies. Women in the workplace: The need to understand diversity is also driven by women in the workplace. Today's workforce has the highest levels of employment participation ever by women. The number of dual-income families and single working mothers has increased. Organizational restructuring: There have been significant changes to organizations as a result of downsizing and outsourcing, which has greatly affected human resource management. Work practices have changed due to the impact of globalization and technology, and there's a trend toward longer working...