In recent years, diversity is considered as an important aspect of any business organization. The incorporation of diversity in terms of ideas, culture, and other critical elements has been given relevant emphasis in the world of business. IDEO Company is a renowned company with roots in Palo Alto, California. Although the company is now located in several states and cities around the world, its establishment in 1991 was traceable back in 1978. IDEO Company is renowned for its designed products and services.
In addition, the company has evolved to designing products and services that focus on the environment and digital experience. However, the growth of the company over the years has made IDEO Company a leading management consultancy firm in both the United States and the world. The concept of diversity in the IDEO Company is harnessed from the elements of professionalism, careers, organization design, products, services, culture, and markets. In this regard, the IDEO Company has been sighted as an ideal example of a business organization that incorporates diversity aspects using the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Affirmative Action (AA), and market needs.
The establishment of IDEO Company by founders from different professions and cities is an example of how diversity was an initial factor in the formation of the organization. Apparently, IDEO Company was formed from a merger between four companies based in the United States and Britain.
The evolution of diversity at IDEO Company is centered on the design thinking phenomenon. From this perspective, the design thinking concept is considered instrumental in identifying people and market needs. In addition, design thinking deems the possibilities of using technology in delivering products, services, and achieving the company’s goals. Design thinking as a diversity strategy allows the human resource at IDEO Company to use different abilities to solve problems and invoke creativity. In this regard, employees at IDEO Company are allowed to use analytical skills and techniques to create business models that meet the needs of a diverse clientele.
IDEO Company’s use of design is preceded by researching on clients’ needs and behavioral patterns. The diversity mantra at IDEO Company is instrumental in helping other organizations establish cultures and internals systems that are sustainable in diverse and fast-evolving markets.
The diverse nature of products and services designed at IDEO Company from 1978 through the 1990s to the present edifies the company’s position as a global consultancy firm. Over the years, IDEO has focused on helping companies build their brand name, as well as that of products. In recent times, the diverse nature of IDEO’s clients reveals how the company has grown in terms of diversified professionalism. IDEO Company offers products and services to reputable companies such as Acer, Citibank, Coca-Cola, Ford, Mahindra, Microsoft, Visa, Sony, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services. In this context, IDEO has employed over 600 professionals who work in diverse disciplines ranging from branding, electronics, and communication to healthcare services.
IDEO Company is not keen on employees’ qualifications but on background and experiences. In fact, IDEO Company uses this aspect of diversity to achieve global success. From such diversity, employees at IDEO are encouraged to work in teamwork. In this regard, great ideas are hatched from the teamwork since each is included in decision-making processes.
As IDEO company expanded over the years since 1978, recruitment of employees of different ages, skin color, and gender has been key to the formation of the organization’s culture.
The existence of the IDEO Company since 1991 has made it possible for the recruitment of over 600 employees. In this context, some of the employees have been working for the company for years. Therefore, conforming to Equal Employment Opportunity legislation has been a critical issue for the company.
IDEO Company has been conforming to the legislation by ensuring that all employees are treated equally and fairly irrespective of nationality, race, gender, and religion. Importantly, the company ensured that employees with physical disabilities are accorded special treatment in the workplace. Moreover, the employee recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary processes are not discriminatory in nature. The fact that IDEO Company has initiated a favorable working environment where harassment is banned through the zero-tolerance policy is encouraging. Since the company started to expand offices in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the need to establish an employee-exchange program from different countries was supported by the EEO legislation.
IDEO company is renowned for keeping Employer Information Report and Local Union Report as part of conforming to EEO legislation and guidelines. Nonetheless, all employees working outside the United States are subjected to similar fairness and equity as envisioned in EEO legislation. IDEO ensures that all federal contracts are drafted and awarded under the guidelines of the EEO legislation. For example, the awarded contracts are not based on sex, religion, and nationality. In fact, the company ensures that records of all federal contracts are kept for future reference.
IDEO Company conforms to Affirmative Action legislation through its supplier diversity policy. From the supplier diversity policy, it is evident that IDEO ensures that small business enterprises are not disadvantaged during their inclusion in the company’s supplier code. In addition, this policy is extended to benefit business enterprises owned by socially disadvantaged individuals. In this context, the IDEO Company ensures that racial and ethnic prejudice does not take precedence when choosing a supplier or business partner. Moreover, IDEO Company gives priority to disabled and veteran-owned businesses, as well as those belonging to women. IDEO extends its Affirmative Action (AA) practices to other countries other than the United States. The company ensures that the diversity of personnel and supplier code policy is extended to all countries of operations.
IDEO Company’s sensitivity to market needs is instrumental in adhering to EEO and AA legislation. The market should be a reflection of the company’s human resources. For example, IDEO Company serves people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. In this regard, ensuring that the workforce comprises of women, disabled people, and ethnic minorities are important in improving IDEO’s public image.
Market needs are effectively addressed through the innovative workforce. The diversity of personnel, as envisioned in EEO and AA legislation, supports organizational creativity. Market needs that are culturally or socially oriented must be addressed through a diverse workforce. Understanding that the market is a field comprised of competitive players is critical in determining the nature of a company’s workforce. IDEO Company works for clients operating in highly competitive markets. In this regard, using EEO and AA to hire highly experienced and competent employees is necessary. The market needs, such as price, requires an in-depth analysis of the competition and clients’ socioeconomic strength. However, this can be determined by a workforce that includes people from different social backgrounds.