Diversity management became a central strategic issue in the 1990s. Unfortunately for some, this is also the newest fad. As a result, there has been a lot of talks lately about the value of diversity training. 

However, several companies took an innovative approach to current diversity and were among the first to do "something" to solve the problem. Usually, the "thing" they pick up on is learning to be aware of diversity. In fact, these companies are already entering their second or third year of training to raise awareness of diversity.

Diversity training is certainly an essential part of any diversity initiative, but it is not the only one. How many times have you done a truly incredible exercise and got so excited about the experience only to get back to work and face the same mess you left behind. What usually happens is that the brilliance of the training experience quickly fades when you face the realities of your work environment. There must be more.

Recently, many companies have begun to recognize the value of adopting diversity as a business strategy. Many large companies (The Prudential Insurance Company, Hewlett-Packard, Alabama Gas Corporation), government agencies (US Department of Transportation, Postal Service), and professional associations (bankers, insurers, utility managers) are beginning to understand how diversity affects their mission.