Internet Exercises

1. Breaking the Glass Ceiling

The site linked below describes work on a very important problem for businesses today -- the glass ceiling, which refers to invisible, artificial barriers that prevent qualified individuals from advancing within their organizations and reaching full potential. Visit the site and then answer the questions below.

Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/e_archive/gov_reports/GlassCeiling/default.html?page=home

1. Why was the Glass Ceiling Commission created?

2. Describe the three levels of artificial barriers to the advancement of minorities and women cited in the report.

3. By taking advantage of the textbook, describe why overcoming these barriers may be important to businesses.

4. What characteristics are important for a company that wants to eliminate these Barriers?

2. Understanding Your Preferences and Beliefs

Visit the Implicit Association Test Web Site. Follow the instructions carefully to complete the test. Although the test was originally developed as a device for exploring the unconscious roots of thinking and feeling, it is offered on this Web site to "interested individuals as a tool to gain greater awareness about their own unconscious preferences and beliefs." You may choose to complete the Black-White IAT, Young-Old IAT, Male-Female IAT, or the Self-Esteem IAT. Respond to the following questions after completing one or more of the tests and receiving feedback.

Go to the Implicit Association Test Web Site http://depts.washington.edu/iat/measure1.html

1. List three ways unconscious preferences or beliefs affect decisions made in the work place.

2. Do you believe that there may also be unconscious preferences according to secondary characteristics (see Figure 11.4 in the text)? Explain.

3. Visit the University of Maryland Diversity Initiative Web site http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/Diversity/Response/UM/Programs/Initiative/. Describe the basic mission and goals of the initiative. Do you believe that such an initiative is necessary and important? Explain.