Within the next eight years, women not only will enter the workplace in greater numbers than men, but they will leave in lesser numbers and stay longer. Our need for computer engineers will jump from 299,000 to 622,000 jobs by 2008. Jobs for computer-support specialists will increase from 429,000 to 869,000 during this same time period. While this is certainly a big change, it is not the essence of what is going on. It does not deal with what happens when you are on the job, except from a compliance perspective.
Affirmative action is the result of laws requiring equal opportunity.
To me, it is about complying with the legalities, whereas diversity is about seeing the value in different perspectives and skills and abilities so that an institution can actually maximize the potential of all of its members, not just a few. Top Employers' Hispanic Power-Hitters Progressive companies don't just hire talented minorities. They promote them. We've said it here before. The companies on the leading edge lead in many areas, not just in products.