Final answer:
Cox and Blake's business case for diversity emphasizes the importance of accessing a wide pool of talent and the benefits of innovative perspectives and conducive work environments. Market forces also provide incentives for businesses to adopt less discriminatory practices, as profitability and productivity are prioritized over biases.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Cox and Blake, two considerations for the business case for diversity are:
- Access to a variety of talent: A recognition emerged that racial discrimination was counterproductive to a firm's interests because it prevented the organization from attracting the best and brightest applicants, irrespective of their racial background.
- Innovative perspectives and positive environments: The understanding that a diverse workforce fosters a conducive work environment by introducing new perspectives and driving innovation became a crucial realization.
Furthermore, companies face market forces that encourage less discriminatory practices. For instance, a flower delivery business with a varied customer base, an assembly line struggling to find qualified workers of a certain gender, or a home health care provider looking to optimize wages across different ethnicities must consider profitability and productivity over personal biases. This pragmatism drives the incorporation of economic factors over discriminatory practices, thereby reinforcing the business case for diversity.