DiversityInc - November/December 2008

editor’s letter

FREE

E-SUBSCRIPTION
to

If your e-mail

address ends in:

.gov

.edu

.mil

.us

.org

You can get a

FREE electronic

subscription at:

www.DiversityInc.

com/freesubs

Inclusive Cultures
Survive

As part of our DiversityInc Benchmarking service,

I recently visited a large corporation that actually is the legacy of four corporations that have merged in the last two years. Very fortunately for this company, all of its predecessor companies understood the importance of diversity and were on The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list at various times.

During the last year, when three of the companies had merged, it took some time to combine all the diversity initiatives, and some of the longtime best practices—such as mandatory diversity training for the entire work force—weren’t implemented immediately. Consequently, this company’s ranking on the DiversityInc Top 50 declined. What has happened, however, and what will benefit this company in the long run, is that the proven best practices are prevailing and the diversity leadership is ensuring that they are doing everything they should, including mandatory diversity training.

As Bank of America buys Merrill Lynch & Co. and Wells Fargo buys Wachovia, the DiversityInc Top 50 companies are changing. What we note is that the companies with a longstanding commitment to diversity are the ones being merged—not bankrupted, like Lehman Brothers—and their diversity commitment is getting stronger.

Combining corporate cultures is never easy, but the fit is a lot smoother and enduring when they

both have clearly stated values and commitments to the progressive, smart and necessary way to do business in 2008 and beyond. Sure, there may be differences in leadership styles, organizational structures and priorities, but the basic inclusive culture, which appreciates differences, is far more accommodating than the rigid cultures of companies that ignore the benefits of diversity.

Whether your company is a candidate for acquisition, is taking over another company, or is going it alone in these turbulent times, its commitment to diversity is crucial to its long-term success.

The best way to assess your diversity progress is to participate in The 2009 DiversityInc Top

50 Companies for Diversity competition, which is now open. There is no fee to participate, and every company that completes the survey receives a free report card, evaluating it against all the competitors and in the four key areas we measure: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications, and Supplier Diversity. If your company would like to participate, send an e-mail to benchmarking@DiversityInc.com