By this measure, there are signs that we may be going through a period of precipitous decline in the worlds cultural diversity. Cultural diversity and how it affects the business environment. Age diversity caters to good decision making skills as it will have a group of people with different age groups. Everyone is in a cultural group when we speak of cultural diversity, were not just speaking of nationalities or ethnic groups, but also of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical abilities, where you live. Cultural diversity in the following sections, after a brief conceptual introduction of the notion of cultural diversity, the theoretical discourses and educational programs which recognize the intrinsic value of cultural diversity in education will be traced back to their origins in relation. Inservices for nursing assistants a professional growth module. The globalization of economies and the migration has. Cultural diversity and information and communication. The impact of cultural diversity varies with the type of environment and.
Choosing from the largest group of candidates will ensure youre hiring a diverse and qualified. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in multicultural organizations patrick a. From the virgin group to disney and pricewaterhousecoopers, organizations across industries are embracing the benefits of a diverse workforce. Workforce diversity means similarities and differences among employees in terms of. Economic globalization is one of the driving forces of cultural diversity in the workplace. Cultural diversity worksheet we have presented a few scenarios below related to workplace diversity.
The business case for managing cultural diversity 19 stages of diversity management 32 developing your own business case for managing cultural diversity 34 section 2. It describes the complex physical, sociological or psychological attributes such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs that define an individual or group. The impact of cultural diversity varies with the type of environment and firms overall. In a relative example of diversity in the workplace, a previous study by badubi, botha and. Now, however, experienced acquirers have developed powerful tools for managing and measuring cultural integrationtools that pave the way to deal success. Managing diversity at workplace 161 ignore nor minimize cultural diversity, but rather view it as a resource in designing and developing organizational systems adler, 1980. Federal laws prohibit workplace discrimination in six areas.
There are different methods and trends adopted to manage the age diversity in the organization. How well the workplace embraces cultural diversity may spell a companys competitive edge and profitability. By jeanne martinson diversity is a word that is tossed around in many areas of work and social life, and has come to mean different things to different people. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 3 where every member must listen and have the chance to speak, are good ways to create dialogues. Managing cultural diversity in human resource management, 72 pages, 2 appendices saimaa university of applied sciences, imatra faculty of business and culture degree programme in tourism bachelor. When companies recruit and retain a diverse pool of people, it brings about different benefits to the company as well as its employees. The key reason for the failure of so many mergers and acquisitions. Combining different cultures at a workplace can result in employees finding it difficult to arrive at agreements, which in turn can lead to cultural.
Explore the required tools for managing workplace diversity. A southafrican perspective article pdf available in team performance management 934. Challenges of workplace diversity taking full advantage of the benefits of diversity in the workplace is not without its challenges. Understand what cultural diversity is and understand its importance in the workplace understand how culture affects communication have an appreciation for the cultural diversity on prince edward island be able to handle diversityrelated conflicts understand your own responsibility in promoting diversity in the workplace. Some companies may not make cultural diversity a priority. And cultural diversity in the workplace, while valuable, can sometimes lead to challenges if employers arent aware of the key aspects of the culture and how to address them. Pdf prospects and challenges of workplace diversity in. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and better able to compete in the new global economy. It has a direct impact on a companys economic and human results.
Businesses that fail to foster inclusive workplaces see higher turnover rates than businesses that value a diverse workforce because they foster a hostile work environment. The promotion of workplace diversity continued to go further, setting a policy to promote equal employment chances by creating the possibility for the program to con tinue for a long period of time in any department. Many hrd practitioners who work with organizations to implement diversity initiatives believe that confusion among these terms has diminished the original intent of diversity efforts to focus specifically on racial and gender discrimination. An overview of diversity awareness college of agricultural sciences. Pros and cons of age diversity in the workplace wisestep. The equal employment opportunity commission promotes equal opportunity and handles complaints about workplace discrimination. In this article, i offer some thoughts and insights on the strategic value and benefits of diversity in the workplace, cultural attributes that provide the prime conditions to harness the benefits of diversity and some pitfalls to avoid when building a culturally diverse workplace. The program was also developed to ensure that the message of the scanlon foundations taste of harmony campaign is translated into ongoing action at the enterprise level. Companies today spend millions of dollars on workplace diversity programs and outreach, often with little to show for it. The workplace is a setting in which many people from different backgrounds and lifestyles can be brought together to work for the same goal. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in. Utilizing diversity training to build an inclusive workplace.
Thank you all for not only your time, but also for your courage to share, at times very painful, experiences, with me. Diversity in the workplace leads to a plethora of benefits both from an internal and external perspective. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and. Looking at how leaders, managers and nonmanagerial employees view diversity, it.
Study the views of various companies regarding the choice and implementation of workplace diversity. The focus of diversity in the workplace lies in the promotion of individuality in an organisation, recognising every person bring in. Research by mckinsey and company report that companies with workforces comprising a large percentage of diversity in gender, race, and ethnicity often outperform the national industry median by as much as 35%. Diversity training is about acknowledging and understanding not tolerating all the ways we are different and similar and coming to grips with our own biases and prejudices we all have themits natural.
As hp is a global innovative and learning organization, its key resource to manage diversity is cultural synergy. Pdf the diverse workforce has become a reality today. The intent of diversity training is to minimize prejudice and bias in your workplace and in your business practices. The variety of experiences and perspective which arise from differences in race, culture, religion, mental or. The impact of cultural diversity varies with the type of environment and firms overall strategy. Cultural diversity in the workplace explores the issues surrounding workforce diversity, cultural differences, and management sensitivity.
Diversity has become a trending topic in literature. Cultural diversity is the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole. Now let us look at few advantages and disadvantages of diversity in workplace. Cultural diversity affects the performance of an organization and various conflicts can arise due to misunderstandings among the culturally diverse workforce. To a horticulturalist, it means balancing perennials, annuals, shade and sun. T heres a lot of talk about cultural diversity these days. However, that doesnt mean implementing diversity initiatives at work isnt without its unique set of challenges. Workplace diversity wpd is a holistic concept that denotes the differences that exist between people working within an organisation. Problem solving skills in an organization is very important, and increasing age diversity in the workplace encourages creativity, and adds lot of advantage to it. Survey results that organisations are slowly awakening to the positive benefits available through a diverse workforce. Workplace diversity and intercultural communication.
Embracing cultural diversity in the workplace is an important first step for businesses that want to be competitive on an international scale. Cultural diversity, communication, learning, cultural stratifications 1. The staying power of culture is that it feels right to people. Your employees can also have the opportunity to share their culture with others in an inclusive working environment. Leaders and managers should be looking for every chance to reinforce a culture of diversity and all that it brings through recruitment, through. The pr esent paper just showe d the most o bvious cultural diversity based on the researchers experiences as a f oreign students and it do esnt want to evalu ate none of the mentioned cultu res. Understand the value of diversity and how it relates to the workplace. By defining key cultural values, employers can better understand their workforce and what their expectations might be. This essential guide brings you up to speed on the unwritten rules of communicating, interviewing, mentoring, and coaching within a culturally diverse workplace.
Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in which to live. The manual includes all the materials needed to design and conduct training for. Business advantages of diversity in the workplace the united states office of employment predicts that 29 percent of the u. Workforceadaptation of minorities waheeda lillevik the increasing mobility of people around the world has resulted in an increasingly culturally diverse workforce, particularly in canada, where multiculturalism is embraced and government policies are en. The effect of cultural similarity on mergers and acquisitions. Senior lecturer jaana hakli, saimaa university of applied sciences there are three aims of the research. Introduction culture is a word with many shades of meaning. Many of your daily misunderstandings at work are nothing more than clear examples of cultural differences in the workplace. They cannot be named, but without their input this book would not exist. Here are ways to foster cultural diversity in the workplace and make sure employees feel accepted. Stephen butler, cochair of the businesshigher education forum, believes diversity is an invaluable competitive asset robinson 2002. It derives from a general psychological focus on the naturally occurring diversity among people within a context and between groups of people who are a part of different contexts. To a stockbroker, it means a balanced portfolio of stocks, bonds and other investments. Cultural diversity in the workplace is when companies are open to hiring employees from all sorts of different backgrounds.
An introduction to culture and diversity in the workplace 2. Covey, strength lies in differences not similarities. Managers should implement policies such as mentoring programs to provide associates access to information and opportunities. Companies values and ways of working are just too different. As this change becomes more and more apparent, its important for companies to keep up. Culture clash in mergers and acquisitions 4 harry levinson, a management psychologist and harvard professor emeritus, stresses the psychological consequences of the merger experience. The study will be useful for the companies under discussion nevertheless it shall also be helpful for people who want to know more about workplace diversity, and how to manage it. Cultural diversity is crucial to the workplace, but there are challenges to making it a reality in any office setting. Pdf the indispensible nature of diversity management as a concept is no. Demonstrate an increased understanding of interrelationships among race, culture, and ethnicity.
Is workforce diversity related to organization performance and productivity and its effect on human resource management. Managing diversity in enterprises after mergers and acquisitions. Culture surveys and assessment tools can be used to measure culture, but these can be time consuming to. The top 10 economic facts of diversity in the workplace.
The importance of diversity in the workplace there are clear signs in the latest leadership, employment and direction l. Cultural diversity in the workplace download ebook pdf. Interviews of over 100 senior executives involved in thes. Its illegal for employers to discriminate against employees based on their cultural diversity. Failure to align culture in mergers and acquisitions can lead to the collapse of the whole establishment. Culture is considered to be the underlying values that direct how people behave. Go through the scenarios and mention how the following scenarios make you view workplace. Just think how boring a meal would be without chinese, mexican, japanese, italian, german, french or indian food. Course learning outcome explain the concept of cultural diversity and workplace diversity in tourism and hospitality industry discuss about the management and issues of cultural diversity in tourism and hospitality industry study the impact on cultural diversity. In todays society is becoming a mixing pot of heritages. The term is also sometimes used to refer to multiculturalism within an organization. Cultural diversity and information and communication impacts.
Examine ourselves as we relate to all forms of diversity. Managing diversity is a key component of effective people management in the workplace black enterprise 2001. Premerger due diligence will ferret out things that are measurable, with an emphasis on financial data. Aluko, olabisi onabanjo university, nigeria abstract. Managing cultural diversity in human resource management. Cultural diversity in the workplace by the cultural diversity. Jan 25, 2020 embracing diversity also cuts down on legal costs.
The impact of cultural diversity on organisational performance may be magnified relative to other sources of diversity. A diverse and inclusive workforce helps businesses avoid employee turnover costs. Cultural diversity is tricky to quantify, but a good indication is thought to be a count of the number of languages spoken in a region or in the world as a whole. The impact of workplace diversity on organisations core. The ability to manage both the group of people and merge them in a single working environment is known as age diversity. Managing cross cultural diversity a challenge for present and future organizations subhash c. The study used a multimethod approach combining survey data from 450.
Cultural diversity is a central feature of community psychology. Mar 16, 2014 cultural diversity in the workplacecultural diversity in the workplace cultural diversity in the workplace providescultural diversity in the workplace provides strength. Increase your awareness of the various dimensions of. People who work in an office that cherishes cultural diversity can approach conflicts and decisions with a global and holistic mindset. We are referring to both economic and social benefits which create industrial harmony in an area as delicate as employment.
Attitudes to multiculturalism and cultural diversity andrew markus it is a complex matter to unravel attitudes to multiculturalism and cultural diversity. More importantly, it estimates that from 1998 to 2008 some 41 percent of the people entering the u. Workplace diversity tutorial in pdf tutorialspoint. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 2 advantages. Managing crosscultural diversity a challenge for present and future organizations subhash c. It aims at presenting effective ways to improve cultural diversity in a workplace. Cross cultural communication 36 understanding culture and cultural diversity in australia 37.
Cultural diversity in the workplace is a result of practices, values, traditions, or beliefs of employees based on race, age, ethnicity, religion, or gender. I feel very honoured that you showed me such confidence. Diversity, workplace, cultural mentoring, organisation. Cultural diversity cultural psychology iresearchnet.
The promotion of workplace diversity continued to go further, setting a policy to promote equal employment chances by creating the possibility for the program to con. He states that even when a merger offers new opportunities, it still tends to be perceived as a threat to ones equilibrium. Workplace diversity and inclusion strategy 201619 11 our commitment to action employee plans we have committed to a range of actions designed to build upon our inclusive workplace culture, retain our diverse workforce for the benefit of performance and productivity and support our people to have long and productive working careers. The acceptance and management of cultural diversity have been promoted and touted as a positive tool in social and organizational engineering aimed at solving and preventing group dynamics problems in both business organizations and society as well. The purpose of this study is therefore to contribute to the current field of cross cultural management and how cultural diversity is managed.
The impact of cultural diversity on work team performance. An inclusive work environment requires a clear understanding of both the inherent and acquired diversity within an organization. All else being equal, the merged firm may face greater challenges in integrating its employees than would two firms with similar levels of commitment to workplace diversity. The meaning of cultural diversity among staff as it pertains to. Communication perceptual, cultural and language barriers need to be overcome for diversity programs to succeed. Recognize the role of stereotypes, assumptions, and other barriers to diversity, and the effect that they can have in the workplace and in our personal lives. Diversity training presents an opportunity to increase knowledge, respect and build a more inclusive environment where employees can contribute to their fullest potential. Managing cultural diversity at workplace diva portal.
Taking specific poll findings at face value can lead to misrepresentation, evidenced in the contending claims made from time to time concerning the level of support for. Diversity training which is part of a diversity strategy, can be leveraged to support other organizational goals, such as retention, customer satisfaction or productivity. Cultural diversity is most likely to involve differences in perspectives, knowledge, and experience necessary for optimal information processing, decisionmaking, and. Kundu ntroduction the diverse workforce has become a reality today. Examine the causes of crosscultural miscommunication and discover effective strategies for more effec tive methods of communicating.