Building a House for Diversity: A Fable About a Giraffe & an Elephant Offers New Strategies for Today's Workforce (INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR)

Thomas Jr., R. Roosevelt; Woodruff, Marjorie I.; Thomas, R. Roosevelt, Jr.

ISBN 10: 0814404634 / ISBN 13: 9780814404638

Published by AMACOM, 1999

About this Item

INSCRIBED by Thomas Jr. on front end paper, some edge wear, corners very bumped, multiple stickers on back cover. Seller Inventory # 049562

Bibliographic Details

Title: Building a House for Diversity: A Fable ...

Publisher: AMACOM

Publication Date: 1999

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Good

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition.

Book Type: Book

About this title

Synopsis:

A giraffe and an elephant consider themselves friends. But when the giraffe invites the elephant into his home, disaster strikes. The house has been designed to meet the needs of the tall, slender giraffe. The elephant smashes into doorways and walls trying to maneuver. The giraffe gently suggests aerobics and ballet classes. The elephant is unconvinced. To him, the house is the problem...
R. Roosevelt Thomas, one of America's most respected experts on diversity, uses the metaphor of giraffes and elephants - insiders and outsiders - to examine our assumptions about power, influence, affirmative action, and acceptance of "the others." His richly accessible guide will have you thinking about these critical issues in a whole new way. And it will show you how to develop the quantifiable set of skills that are the essence of diversity management.~

Book Description:

"What could an elephant and a giraffe teach people about working together? Some very important lessons, it seems, about the complex--and critically important--issues of dealing with diversity in the workforce.

Building a House for Diversity begins with a short fable about how a friendship between the two animals is threatened when the house built for a tall, skinny giraffe cannot accommodate his invited guest, a broad, bulky elephant. Using this story as a vivid metaphor for the difficult issues inherent in diversity, the book goes on to demonstrate how managing diversity can be seen as a set of skills that anyone can learn and use.

In a way that makes diversity management ""up close and personal,"" Building a House for Diversity offers compelling, real-life stories of individual experiences at work. It includes:

* The perspective of both ""insiders"" (usually white males) and ""outsiders"" (usually minorities or women)

* Insightful commentary illuminating what these experiences tell us about the challenges and opportunities of diversity

* A particularly interesting segment on Phil Jackson, legendary Chicago Bulls coach, and how he dealt with diversity issues in his relationships to Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippin, and others

* Hands-on guidance to help readers become ""diversity mature"" and take personal responsibility for their attitudes and actions.

Throughout, the book reflects the seminal thinking of R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., a pioneer in articulating the concepts of managing diversity. In this book, he has produced his most creative and practical approach to this continuing challenge."