GMT 616 VAL/LECT/DST1-2021/SPRING/01 - Business Law & Corporate Ethics

Forum Discussion 11-4

Source: Photo courtesy of dichohecho,http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/2545363497.

This statement comes from Google CEO Eric Schmidt on the corporate web page titled "Google Celebrates Diversity": "Our products and tools serve an audience that is globally and culturally diverseso it's a strategic advantage that our teams not only encompass the world's best talent but also reflect the rich diversity of our customers, users, and publishers. It is imperative that we hire people with disparate perspectives and ideas, and from a broad range of cultures and backgrounds. This philosophy won't just ensure our access to the most gifted employees; it will also lead to better products and create more engaged and interesting teams."[6]

This is a very carefully worded paragraph, and beneath its motivational tone there are firm statements about diversity in the Google workplace. They include the following:

• Google carefully avoids mentioning race, gender, and similar requirements for any particular position. The company doesn't get involved in discussions about how many Catholic females over fifty years old and with a disability work there. Like most contemporary organizations, Google avoids strict quota systems.
• Google will seek to hire "the world's best talent."
• Google,apart from hiring the best raw talent, will seek employees reflecting "the rich diversity of our customers."

There are also clear justifications for the diversity side of the hiring strategy. Google will take action to contract a rainbow of workers because

• diversity in hiring will help Google connect with its diverse consumer base,
• diversity in hiring will ensure Google has access to all gifted employees,
• diversity in hiring will help Google produce better products,
• diversity in hiring will help Google create more engaged and interesting teams.

Concretely, what is Google doing to diversify the people forming its company? Besides directly hiring a diverse workforce, the company offers a number of scholarships and internships aimed at those historically underrepresented in the technology industry.

1.In a nutshell, the commonly cited arguments in favor of affirmative action include the following:

• It creates fairness and equal opportunity within organizations.
• It benefits third parties: societyas a wholewill be more harmonious as discrimination recedes.
• It reduces tensions in an organization.
• It benefits organizations by helping them reach their goals.
• It is compensation for past wrongs.

Which of these arguments appear to stand behind affirmative action at Google?

Explain. Are any of the other justifications applicable even though they may not be thereasonGoogle seeks diverse talent?

1. In sweeping terms there are two types of arguments in favor of affirmative action. First, it serves a broad social good by integrating society.

Second, companies employing affirmative action do better in the marketplace than those that don't.

If you had to choose one of these as a better and more persuasive argument for affirmative action, which would you choose? Why?