Smart Management; Unleashing the Potential of People with Disabilities (Essay Sample)

Smart Management; Unleashing the Potential of People with Disabilities
According to the Kenya National Survey for Persons with Disabilities, 4.6 % of the population of Kenya is living with disabilities. A vast majority of people living with disabilities are unemployed and those that are earn a living in the informal sector. Most businesses shy away from employing PWD’s due to the cost of setting up special access, accommodation and assistive equipment for such employees. However, this has since been debunked as a costly misconception as studies into employment of PWD’s have shown that the benefits of including them by far outweigh the initial costs. Besides ethical and legal considerations, there are countless reasons for incorporating people living with disabilities into the core of business and human resource.
Inject innovation and creativity into the workplace
People living with disabilities face great physical, social, psychological and systemic challenges on a daily basis and spend their lives seeking solutions on how to get about daily life. A lifelong determination and commitment to solving problems and finding alternative ways to get along creates substantial sense of awareness and mental stamina that imparts creativity. Despite lacking certain natural abilities, PWD’s most often have exceptional and supremely polished talents and skills in other area. The constant and consistent drive to innovate and equal up makes this special group integral to the dynamic and fast moving world today and for the future. As thus, with the right set up and systems to accommodate PWD’s, businesses stand to benefit from unique and enduring resourcefulness and creative thinking to spearhead competitiveness and incorporate new perspectives to enhance productivity and profit.
Increase workplace morale and compositional diversity
People living with disabilities call on others to lend a hand and help them navigate challenges every day; they understand cooperation to solve problems. Most PWD’s are extremely sociable with exquisite people skills that add to the air of vibrancy and morale for the workplace by tapping into the sweet spots of diversity and cooperation. They are extremely strategic and instinctive mobilizers of limited resources and people to deliver. Therefore, they are more likely to thrive in group and team settings for the betterment of all. As a considerably untapped human resource, these employees inject a sense of increased possibilities and dynamism that increases general productivity besides opening up new perspectives. In addition, these employees are best placed to design the best approaches by which a business can serve and satisfy its customers who live with disabilities.
A major market segment
People with disability are the most potent but largely unexploited market demographic segment that can be given special attention to maximize profit margins and business output if approached strategically. Around 1.84 million people in Kenya experience some form of disability. This is a significant number that is facing challenges that require solutions of varied kinds. Solving these problems present a massive market for new and innovative products. This is set to be a growing opportunity as the government consistently increases investment to improve conditions for PWD’s. Employing staff with disability can be the masterstroke to leverage on the business prospects of these developments. This is because employees with disability already have the predisposition of experiencing similar problems and exploring an array of solutions, giving a business competitive edge to the employer.
Reputation and favorable perception
The large number of people living with disability in Kenya has vital marketing value when families, friends, associates and other proponents are factored in. In addition, as markets increasingly become progressive and particular on various management issues, there is massive support for PWD’s. A company that employs, collaborates with and meets needs of people with disability is bound to be perceived much more favorably. Good reputation not only attracts business to such a company but could also possibly earn it associates and investors around the world who are likely to be appealed with its human resource and social ethics and sensitivities, thereby turning a social issue into a potential business opportunity. PWD’s are also likely to consider...