Companies that embrace and value these cultural differences can not only reduce conflict and increase regulatory compliance but also transform cultural diversity into a competitive advantage. Aluko, olabisi onabanjo university, nigeria abstract. Understand the value of diversity and how it relates to the workplace. Just what is meant by cultural diversity presents its own set of theoretical complexities and prob lematic. Cultural diversity within a workplace is increasingly becoming important as more organisations are embracing it within the global workforce. Other authors, for example, skarzynski and gibson 2008, are convinced diversity is a blueprint to innovation, while pinto and pinto 2011 agree that diversity in the workforce directly contributes to and affects creativity.
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 and information and communication. Managing diversity is a key component of effective people management in the workplace black enterprise 2001. Thomas harvard university o 2001 by cornell university.
Beyond the products it sells, services it offers or profits it generates, any organization is defined by the people who work there. Importance of cultural diversity in the workplace bizfluent. Because the area of diversity and diversity management is so broad, there was a need to focus mainly on the areas of cultural diversityethnicity and disability. Demonstrate an increased understanding of interrelationships among race, culture, and ethnicity. 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. Introduction culture is a word with many shades of meaning. There are some very positive benefits that can be hard from having a more diverse workforce. The results demonstrate that cultural diversity does in fact add value and, within the proper context, contributes to firm competitive advantage. Choosing from the largest group of candidates will ensure youre hiring a diverse and qualified. The issue of managing cultural diversity is a primary concern for many international organisations. Examine the causes of crosscultural miscommunication and discover effective strategies for more effec tive methods of communicating.
The study also focuses on barriers encountered by employees for accepting workplace diversity in it sectors in india. The globalization of economies and the migration has. Examine ourselves as we relate to all forms of diversity. Importance of cultural diversity in the workplace deputy. Managing diversity well provides a distinct advantage in an era when. The importance of diversity in the workplace there are clear signs in the latest leadership, employment and direction l. Workplace diversity and intercultural communication. The benefits of workplace diversity greatly outweigh the barriers you may have to cross to get there.
The equal employment opportunity commission promotes equal opportunity and handles complaints about workplace discrimination. Cultural diversity in the workplace explores the issues surrounding workforce diversity, cultural differences, and management sensitivity. Cultural diversity in the workplace is a result of practices, values, traditions, or beliefs of employees based on race, age, ethnicity, religion, or gender. New paradigm is emerging that places the focus of diversity on integration workplace diversity is important to organizations talent management and leadership development look for the qualities and talents focus on bringing those out rather than on the differences. Workplace diversity workforce diversity refers to the composition of work units in terms of the cultural or demographic characteristics that are salient and symbolically meaningful in the relationships among group members ditomaso, post and parksyancy, 2007, p. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. 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.
This study provides background knowledge on cultural diversity among employees at the workplace and provides measures of organizational. To manage effectively in a global or a domestic multicultural environment, we need to recognize the differences and learn to use them to our advantage, rather than either attempting to ignore. Pdf prospects and challenges of workplace diversity in. An introduction to culture and diversity in the workplace 2. Diversity in the workplace by ba in human resource. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger. Cultural diversity management, diversity at workplace, employee perception, human resource management abstract. The manual includes all the materials needed to design and conduct training for. The gap between their clients and is often superficially bridged at the image level by advertising, sales teams and marketing. The modern workforce is made up of people of different genders, ages, ethnicity, religions, and.
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. And cultural diversity in the workplace is as critical as religious, gender and language diversity. Culture as problematic a number of authors bemoan the con fusion often made between managing diversity and managing culture. This strategy demonstrates our commitment to providing a positive work environment where our diversity is celebrated, and inclusion is a focus for everyone. Cross cultural communication 36 understanding culture and cultural diversity in australia 37. Understanding the evolving role of cultural diversity in the workplace for an organization to get its arms around depending on ones culture, for. 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. But with benefits necessarily come challenges of working. Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in which to live. Here are ways to foster cultural diversity in the workplace and make sure employees feel accepted.
Managed well, diversity provides benefits that increase success. Diversity management is the active and conscious development of a future oriented, value driven strategic, communicative and managerial. India is a land of unity in diversity where people of different sects, caste and religion live together. Economic globalization is one of the driving forces of cultural diversity in the workplace. Discrimination was the most frequently encountered barrier for accepting workplace diversity, followed by prejudice and ethnocentrism. Culture refers to the 7 essentials of workplace cultural competence. One positive effect is that employees belonging to different cultures usually have different ways of thinking and can thus analyze a matter at hand from a variety of. Cultural competence to develop cultural selfawareness and take the lead in establishing a twoway process of cultural learning that results in adapting professional interpretations and recommendations to the value system of students disability will be presented as an important component of cultural diversity in these trainings. Diversity in the workforce journal of education and human. For decades, the united states has seen an increasing number of immigrants, which has led to a significant increase in cultural diversity in the united states. Thus, in india there is unity amidst vast cultural diversity. Cultural diversity within a workplace is increasingly becoming important as more organisations are embracing it within. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as.
The effects of diversity perspectives on work group processes and outcomes robin j. Our department provides services to nearly every australian, whatever their age, cultural background or personal circumstances. Workplace diversity wpd is a holistic concept that denotes the differences that exist between people working within an organisation. People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace. Managing diversity well provides a distinct advantage in an era when flexibility and creativity are keys to competitiveness. Embracing cultural diversity in the workplace is an important first step for businesses that want to be competitive on an international scale. Cultural diversity and information and communication impacts. Diversity has become a trending topic in literature. The effects of cultural diversity in the workplace clute journals. Distinct cultures that are different from each other coexist together in a single country.
Introduction workplace diversity is the issue of people, focus on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization. Jan 25, 2020 embracing diversity also cuts down on legal costs. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and better able to compete in the new global economy. The impact of cultural diversity on organisational performance may be magnified relative to other sources of diversity. Top 10 diversity issues at work selection partners. By defining key cultural values, employers can better understand their workforce and. It even affects perceptions of time, which can impact daytoday scheduling and deadlines. Managing cultural diversity at workplace diva portal. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in multicultural organizations patrick a. Survey results that organisations are slowly awakening to the positive benefits available through a diverse workforce.
The shared experiences, training and racialcultural diverse human capital contributes to innovation which has positive results on productivity within organizations. Just think how boring a meal would be without chinese, mexican, japanese, italian, german, french or indian food. 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. Managers should implement policies such as mentoring programs to provide associates access to information and opportunities. The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace. Click download or read online button to get cultural diversity in the workplace book now. More importantly, it estimates that from 1998 to 2008 some 41 percent of the people entering the u. A phenomenological study adam evans1 and harika suklun2,3 abstract. Reinforcing homogeneity means to avoid or even reject a diverse workforce.
The impact of workplace diversity on organisations core. The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace wednesday, september 21, 2016 11. Study the views of various companies regarding the choice and implementation of workplace diversity. Issues and challenges harold andrew patrick 1 and vincent raj kumar2 abstract diversity management is a process intended to create and maintain a positive work environment where the similarities and differences of individuals are valued. Cultural diversity in the workplace download ebook pdf. The globalization of economies and the migration has dramatically increased opportunities while also affecting organizations in a manner that it. Managing a culturally diverse workforce diversity, equity and. Its illegal for employers to discriminate against employees based on their cultural diversity. Advertising agencies manage at times to put on a face of a culturally. 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. 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 is most likely to involve differences in perspectives, knowledge, and experience necessary for optimal information processing, decisionmaking, and. An inclusive work environment requires a clear understanding of both the inherent and acquired diversity within an organization. It describes the complex physical, sociological or. Barriers and benefits of diversity in the workplace. We are live in an increasingly multicultural society. The modern workplace is a mosaic of different ideas, beliefs and opinions, which taken together create an atmosphere of cultural diversity. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 2 advantages. Cultural diversity and organisational performance include. Diversity, workplace, cultural mentoring, organisation. Explore the required tools for managing workplace diversity. Introduce the topic of diversity increase awareness of the impact of culture in the workplace demonstrate skills for managing a culturally diverse workplace address the matter of gender in the workplace. Business advantages of diversity in the workplace the united states office of employment predicts that 29 percent of the u. Inherent diversity is biological traits such as race, gender, and sexual orientation, while acquired diversity is things you gain from experience like religion, cultural experiences, and situations that make an impact on your thoughtprocess. Cultural diversity is the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole.
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