Final answer:
Affirmative action plans implemented by court order or by settlement are designed to correct discriminatory practices and to promote equal opportunities for historically underrepresented groups. These plans are managed and enforced by authorities like the EEOC, with significant consequences for non-compliance.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the court either orders the imposition of an affirmative action plan or allows the parties to develop an agreed-upon plan by way of settlement, it is engaging in a process to correct patterns of discrimination and ensure compliance with anti-discrimination laws. Affirmative action plans are an important tool that can involve a range of strategies, such as creating initiatives to recruit underrepresented groups, including women and minorities, and amending policies to foster equal employment opportunities.
These plans sometimes come with stronger consequences for those entities not complying with the program. Implementation and oversight of affirmative action can fall to governmental bodies such as the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which ensures that federal contractors who have lost discrimination lawsuits comply with affirmative action requirements.