This week we will discuss a controversial topic - Affirmative Action! There has been a lot of discussion and confusion about Affirmative Action - what it is and what it is not, including what it affects - in the media over the last two decades. Federal contractors are required by Executive Order 11246 to engage in "affirmative action" in hiring women and minorities. Following are some discussion questions to get the discussion started. Please look up articles and the text to back up your postings - please refrain from making this entirely "opinion" based, although some opinions are okay too. You do not have to address each question, simply address the questions which spark interest to you the most. What is affirmative action? What exactly do you think of when you hear this term? Is it important to promote the diversity of the workforce through the hiring and promotion of women and minorities? What about people with disabilities or veterans? If so, why? If not, why not? How appropriate are each of the following types of affirmative action? Recruiting from minority or all-female colleges and universities. Advertising job openings in minorityoriented or female-oriented publications. Providing additional training and development opportunities for minorities and women. Having goals for the hiring of women and/or minorities. Hiring a certain "quota" of women and/or minorities. Adjusting test scores (e.g., race norming) to allow for more minorities to be hired. What are the positive consequences of having an affirmative action program? What are the negative consequences? If a firm wanted to engage in some type of affirmative action, what are some steps they could take?