Economic changes can significantly impact workforce diversity management. This topic has appeared in various forms in past IELTS exams and is likely to remain relevant in future tests due to its global importance. Let’s examine a sample question and provide model essays to help you prepare for this challenging yet crucial subject.
Some people believe that during times of economic difficulty, companies should focus solely on financial survival rather than maintaining a diverse workforce. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Analysis of the Question
This question asks for your opinion on prioritizing financial survival over workforce diversity during economic hardships. It’s essential to:
- Clearly state your position
- Provide reasons and examples to support your view
- Consider counterarguments
- Conclude by restating your opinion
Now, let’s look at two sample essays addressing this question, one aimed at a Band 8-9 score and another for a Band 6-7 score.
Sample Essay for Band 8-9
In today’s globalized economy, many argue that during financial crises, businesses should prioritize survival over maintaining a diverse workforce. While I acknowledge the importance of financial stability, I strongly disagree with the notion of sacrificing diversity for short-term gains. I believe that preserving workforce diversity is not only ethically sound but also crucial for long-term economic resilience and innovation.
Firstly, a diverse workforce brings a variety of perspectives and experiences, which are invaluable during economic downturns. Different backgrounds and viewpoints can lead to more creative problem-solving and innovative solutions, potentially uncovering new markets or cost-saving measures that a homogeneous team might overlook. For instance, during the 2008 financial crisis, companies like IBM that maintained their commitment to diversity were better positioned to adapt to changing market conditions and emerge stronger.
Moreover, maintaining diversity during tough times sends a powerful message about a company’s values and long-term vision. This commitment can enhance employee loyalty and attract top talent, even when the economy improves. Conversely, companies that abandon diversity initiatives may face reputational damage and struggle to rebuild a diverse workforce when economic conditions improve, potentially limiting their future growth and competitiveness.
It’s also worth noting that diverse teams often better reflect and understand diverse customer bases. In an increasingly interconnected world, this understanding can be crucial for identifying new opportunities and maintaining customer loyalty during economic challenges. Companies like Unilever have demonstrated how a diverse workforce can help navigate complex global markets, even during economic uncertainties.
However, I recognize that maintaining diversity during financial hardships can be challenging. Companies may need to make difficult decisions to ensure survival. Nevertheless, I argue that these decisions should not disproportionately affect diverse employees. Instead, businesses should seek creative solutions that preserve diversity while addressing financial concerns, such as reducing hours across the board or implementing temporary pay cuts at higher management levels.
In conclusion, while financial survival is undoubtedly crucial, I firmly believe that maintaining a diverse workforce should not be viewed as mutually exclusive to this goal. The long-term benefits of diversity – including enhanced innovation, improved problem-solving, and better market understanding – are essential for navigating economic challenges and emerging stronger. Companies that prioritize both financial stability and workforce diversity are likely to be more resilient and successful in the long run.
(Word count: 377)
Sample Essay for Band 6-7
In times of economic difficulty, some people think companies should only focus on surviving financially instead of keeping a diverse workforce. I disagree with this idea because I believe that diversity is important even during tough economic times.
Firstly, having a diverse workforce can help companies find new solutions to problems. When people from different backgrounds work together, they can come up with creative ideas that might help the company save money or find new customers. For example, during the last economic crisis, some companies with diverse teams were able to adapt better and find new ways to make money.
Secondly, if a company keeps its diverse workforce during hard times, it shows that the company cares about its values. This can make employees more loyal and help attract good workers in the future. On the other hand, if a company gets rid of diversity to save money, it might have a hard time hiring diverse workers later when things get better.
Another reason to keep a diverse workforce is that it can help understand different customers better. In today’s global market, having employees from various backgrounds can help a company serve different types of customers, which is important for making money even when the economy is bad.
However, I understand that it can be hard for companies to keep everyone employed when they don’t have much money. But I think they should try to find ways to save money without getting rid of diversity. For example, they could reduce working hours for everyone instead of firing people.
In conclusion, I believe that companies should try to keep their diverse workforce even when the economy is bad. Diversity can help companies solve problems, keep good employees, and understand customers better. These benefits are important for surviving tough times and becoming stronger in the future.
(Word count: 309)
Key Points to Remember When Writing
-
For Band 8-9:
- Use sophisticated vocabulary and complex sentence structures
- Provide well-developed arguments with specific examples
- Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the topic
- Maintain a clear and coherent structure throughout the essay
-
For Band 6-7:
- Use a mix of simple and complex sentences
- Provide clear main ideas with some supporting details
- Show a good understanding of the topic
- Maintain a generally coherent structure
-
Grammar and Vocabulary:
- Band 8-9: Use a wide range of grammatical structures accurately. Employ less common vocabulary precisely.
- Band 6-7: Use a variety of structures with some errors that don’t impede understanding. Use some less common vocabulary with occasional inaccuracies.
Important Vocabulary to Remember
- Workforce diversity (noun) /ˈwɜːkfɔːs daɪˈvɜːsəti/ – variety in the employees of an organization
- Economic downturn (noun) /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈdaʊntɜːn/ – a period of reduced economic activity
- Resilience (noun) /rɪˈzɪliəns/ – the ability to recover quickly from difficulties
- Innovation (noun) /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ – the introduction of new ideas or methods
- Homogeneous (adjective) /ˌhɒməˈdʒiːniəs/ – of the same kind; uniform
- Disproportionately (adverb) /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənətli/ – to a degree that is too large or too small in comparison with something else
- Competitiveness (noun) /kəmˈpetətɪvnəs/ – the quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature
In conclusion, managing workforce diversity during economic change is a complex but crucial topic for IELTS Writing Task 2. Remember to clearly state your position, provide well-supported arguments, and use appropriate vocabulary and grammar for your target band score. To further improve your skills, try writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section for feedback and discussion. Additionally, you might want to practice with related topics such as the role of education in social mobility or the effects of global migration on national identity, as these themes often intersect with workforce diversity issues.