...companies to develop innovative ideas and find human capital to develop capabilities and share expertise. Globalization has changed the face of 21st century workforce. In today's fast paced and growing economy, there is an exponential increase of cultural diversity within big businesses and corporations. There is an opportunity to "achieve higher levels of productivity and extraordinary performance" (Nykiel) for large corporations with a multicultural workforce. At the same time, it may also "be more challenging in a multicultural work and managerial environment" (Nykiel). Workforce Diversity Statistics The term "multicultural workforce" which represents the personal characteristics of employees in an organization is today superseded and replaced by a much broader term, "cultural diversity". Diversity refers to the way organizations respond to a multicultural workforce. The strategy in large organizations is to leverage differences in employees to increase creativity and have a competitive advantage in a fierce market. In the 2014 survey conducted by Diversity Inc; which is the leading publication for the education and benefits of large organizations, 1215 companies participated in an empirically driven and ranked competition for a diverse workplace. It was carried out to help acquire and retain a multicultural workforce. . Competition got assessed on the talent pipeline, equitable skill development, CEO commitment, and supplier diversity. The top ranking companies had 76...
Words: 2151 - Pages: 9
...Final Research Paper-Multicultural Workforce COMM/215 December 1, 2014 Introduction-Worldwide Telecommunications Company Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations. It is driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology (The Levin Institute, 2014). Indeed, globalization has made our world smaller. As the markets for products, services, labor, and capital increasingly integrate worldwide, we are witnessing the increasing economic, cultural, demographic, political, and environmental interdependence of different locations around the world (Elfrink, 2014). In his book The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman perfectly captured the essence of today’s new era of globalization. By flat, Friedman meant that the world is connected. The lowering of trade and political barriers, and the exponential technical advances of the digital revolution have made it possible to do business or almost anything else, instantaneously with billions of other people across the planet (Friedman 2005). However, with a more global business environment comes a host of new challenges including managing a multicultural workforce comprised of people with widely differing backgrounds. In a multicultural environment, where the meanings of various behaviors and practices are as diverse as the people demonstrating them, incorrect assumptions could easily lead to miscommunication (Lankard, 1994). The...
Words: 2305 - Pages: 10
...Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. is a full service voice and data communications company. The company is one of the world’s largest and successful telecommunications companies. Despite the success that Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. had experienced, the company will eventually face some cultural changes in the future. Also, a diverse workforce will have an effect on teamwork as well as communication. However, Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. is not the only large company that will come across cultural changes. Nowadays, the trend for many companies is to expand into another country with the goal to gain a diverse workforce and to enter an international market. Although this trend is extremely beneficial for the company’s success and survival, there are some negative aspects as well. Possible Cultural Changes in Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. The world is becoming more diverse and most large companies are multicultural. Diversity definitely has brought new importance to the workplace. Because of the increase of diverse employees from all over the world, it is almost impossible for Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc. to not counteract any cultural changes. Combining people from different backgrounds can cause tension in the workplace. People of different nationalities, ethnicities, religions, genders, ages, etc. interact with each other differently and perceive things in different ways. In addition, the working...
Words: 2156 - Pages: 9
...HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY by Yi Gong Bachelor of Science China Chongqing University 1998 A professional paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science in Hotel Administration William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2008 2 ABSTRACT Managing Cultural Diversity in Hospitality Industry By Yi Gong Gail Sammons, Committee Chair Professor of Hotel Management University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cultural diversity has become a major issue in the hospitality industry of the United States. This paper focuses on analyzing the change faces and current status of the cultural diversity in the hospitality workplaces, discussing the opportunities, benefits and challenges from the culturally diverse workforce, and providing practical recommendations that might help human resource managers to successfully dear with cultural diversity issues. Based on the analysis of cultural diversity, this paper creates a cultural diversity training...
Words: 14706 - Pages: 59
...Galactic Therapies Incorporated Communication Challenges and Opportunities COMM/215 April 8, 2013 RoMay Sitze Galactic Therapies Incorporated Communication Challenges and Opportunities Galactic Therapies Incorporated (GTI) has been expanding on a global level and therefore has developed a very diverse, multicultural workforce. The new dynamics of this globally diverse workforce has helped to expand their ability to innovate and expand their operations, but this growth has not come without difficulties. With the new diverse workforce GTI has encountered issues related to communication and teamwork between the workers from different corners of the globe. The board of directors has asked Team Alpha Consulting to research the problems, evaluate how other companies are handling similar issues, and provide a report that will help to integrate this diverse workforce with GTI’s ever-expanding global force. Managing a multicultural workforce requires a clear understanding of the different cultures involved and how the cultural differences require different management styles. During our research we have found two primary ways to expand a company’s workforce globally. The first option is to hire an outsourcing company that will provide its own workers and will manage most of the relationships with the hiring company via liaisons. Outsourcing companies prefer to minimize direct contact of their employees aside from their own management staff. In this scenario it is prudent...
Words: 1598 - Pages: 7
...Multicultural Workforce In the past American business experienced few examples of multicultural workforce. Due to globalization large companies and small businesses are experiencing a growing multicultural workforce. These cultural changes are contributing to business success and at the same time affecting teamwork and communication. A multicultural workforce is one in which a company’s workers come from various ethnic, racial, religious, and gender backgrounds. In the past business leaders in the United States had limited experience working with a multicultural workforce and little was written or taught on the subject. However, today’s business owners, managers and corporate executives recognize that culturally diverse workforces contribute to success. A diverse multicultural workforce boosts a company’s success by bringing new ideas and ways to enhance decision making, creativity and innovation, marketing to foreign and ethnic minority communities, and distribution of economic opportunity. Researchers believe that most cultural challenges arise from three basic cultural preferences; how individuals approach work, how individuals share information, and how individuals view time. The researchers believe these three preferences have an enormous impact on teamwork effectiveness. However, cultural differences can be a factor contributing to increased costs when higher turnover rates, increased interpersonal conflict and communication breakdowns occur...
Words: 2049 - Pages: 9
...these cross- cultural teams. The author had also focused on the strategies to cope up with these problems of cross- cultural teams. The author will act as researcher and will use exploratory research design, i.e. the study will be based on secondary data taken from magazines, journals, internet and reports. These tools will help author to conclude the objectives of the study. The author found that there are problems among the cross-cultural teams regarding their cultural background. The different ways are also suggested to cope up with the problems faced by crosscultural teams. The author had also focused on how to create effective management of multicultural teams. RESEARCH VALUE The research may be valuable for the companies who are looking for expanding the business and also for those companies who are facing the cross- cultural team issue. workplace leads to heightened tensions among the employees and thus hindering company’s performance. [4] Most of the people assume that workplace diversity is about increasing racial, national, gender or class representation. This is only the first step, Diversity goes beyond to the varied perspectives and approaches to work that member of different identity group bring. [5] OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY Every study is done to accomplish...
Words: 2614 - Pages: 11
...advantage from multicultural differences in their workforce ? As the business world gets ever more connected, it is more critical than ever for global organizations to recruit, develop, and retain multicultural leaders who can navigate the myriad opportunities and challenges their companies face. Multicultural workforce can offer cultural competence or cultural intelligence; this can allow them to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. For example, they may have more than one ethnicity or spent time working abroad, where they likely would have experienced adjusting to a different culture. This can make them more culturally sensitive than a manager who hasn't worked with people from other cultures or regions. Managing diversity is about recognizing the unique contribution each employee can make to the organization. It is about creating an environment in which everyone feels valued, welcomed, and able to make an important contribution toward the attainment of corporate objectives. Additionally, companies facing challenges in competing global marketplace for market share can use diversity as "competitive advantage" in a multicultural environment with a diverse pool of talented and experienced individuals who can bring innovation and creativity to the organization. Diversity is not only associated to limited attributes that can be observed but also to those invisible characteristics such as differences in educational background, creativity, understanding, learning style...
Words: 900 - Pages: 4
...How a Multicultural Workforce Might Affect Teamwork and Communications in Large Companies Bethany Ward, Nicole Ortiz, Brandi Cook Learning Team B University of Phoenix COMM/215 Linda Lawliss February 5, 2007 Large companies find a multicultural workforce essential because they have to do business effectively with many diverse cultures in order to be successful. Unique skills and/or lower costs become more accessible to companies when they broaden their work forces. However, in working with different cultures and backgrounds, many companies face difficulties and challenges they must overcome. Managing a diverse workforce is an important task for today’s corporations. The idea of a diverse workforce is not a new concept. “According to The History Channel, in the 1850’s, Chinese and Irish laborers were brought over to lay the tracks for the transcontinental railroad, which raised anger of those who had arrived a hundred years earlier”. (Cartby, 2006). No matter how angry people may get over diversity and new workers coming to America in search of a better life, it’s not going to go away. Ethnic backgrounds are just one dynamic of a diverse workforce. According to the Workforce 2000 study funded by the U.S. Department of Labor: “Immigrants, women and people of color accounted for 85 percent of the net growth in the labor force throughout the 1990’s”. (Cartby, 2006). This study proves the workforce of the future is going to become even more diverse...
Words: 1943 - Pages: 8
...EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF MULTICULTURAL TEAM Abstract Multicultural teams have become more common in recent years, and contemporary international management literature has identified that the management of multicultural teams is an important aspect of human resource management. This paper has focused on the positive effects of using multicultural teams. Using data from 20 interviews in Mwanza Tanzania, the results show that management within multicultural team environments can be effective when project managers demonstrate an awareness of cultural variation. Participants further highlighted that, one of the critical components of building multicultural teams is the creation and development of effective cross cultural collectivism, trust, communication and empathy in leadership NAME: SARAH CHRISTOPHER KITELEJA 11/23/2012 EMPOWER STUDENT 2012 COUNTRY: MWANZA- TANZANIA A. Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION3 1.2 Objective of diploma paper3 1.3 Significant of the study3 2. BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM3-4 3. MANAGEMENT OF MULTICUTURAL TEAM…………………………………………………………………………………...4 3.1 Type of multicultural team & its diversity 4 3.2 Condition for higher performance4-5 3.3 management of Multicultural team……………………………………………………………………………..6-7 3.4 management of Multicultural team…………………………………………………………………………..7-9 4. THE USE OF DMIS IN MANAGEMENT OF MULTICUTURAL TEAM…………………………………………..10-12 5. CHALLENGES IN MANAGING MULTICULTURAL TEAM……………………………………………………………13-14 6. RECOMME...
Words: 5249 - Pages: 21
...1. INTRODUCTION Multicultural teams have become very common in recent years. With cross border mobility becoming much easier the number of people moving from one country to another has grown significantly. This has also led to more people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds intermarrying. Their children could be born and grow up in different countries and have hybrid cultural identities. Globalization and the advances in communication and transportation technology have reduced trade barriers and increased interaction among people. Multicultural teams have become more common in our organizations, and contemporary international management literature has identified that the management of multicultural teams is an important aspect of human resource management. Recent studies have focussed on the positive effects of using multicultural teams, for example, Earleyand Mosakowski (2000) stated that multicultural teams are used because they are perceived to out-perform monoculture teams, especially when performance requires multiple skills and judgement. However, there has been little research into construction-specific multicultural teams, and many construction organisations, although expanding into global operations do not fully appreciate the implications and are often unable to respond to cultural factors affecting their project teams. 1.1 Objective of the diploma paper • To explain challenges faced by Multicultural team and how to manage them • To give recommendations on...
Words: 5038 - Pages: 21
...has become reality. With globalization taking place, diversification is the changing labor force in U.S. Increased emigration has mirrored into the workforce. According to Census Bureau data, immigrant workers made up 42 percent of the growth of the labor force in 2012 (Cohen, n.d). Managers now recognize that cultural diversity in the workplace is a challenge that must be addressed to lead an effective team. A culturally diverse workforce has many competitive advantages. Frist, by capturing cultural diversity, the company will gain an added value and competitive advantage over companies that have ignored this challenge (Gwynne, 2009). People despite their cultural upbringing, feel valued. By tapping into the human value of each individual, managers will gain an increased commitment and productivity, strengthen work relationships and retain the best employees. The second, benefit is business growth. Targeted audiences in a global market, come from multicultural backgrounds. Members with different multicultural background will bring ethnic authenticity (Gwynne, 2009). This means language skills, knowledge of business network and cultural sensitivity from their home countries. This is an added asset that the company can use to gain a competitive advantage into targeting a new audience. A third advantage to a multicultural team is the potential to gain new a consumer base at home. A perfect example of this is Avon Company. Once an unprofitable company, Avon was able to...
Words: 3063 - Pages: 13
...Is culture really all that International Human Resource Manager is about? * Introduction * Diversity Management * IHRM & Culture issue * Conclusion * References Introduction People have always been the driving force of business and management. This force is a challenge and if not addressed with the right skills, it will develop into disturbing elements that are very dangerous for the management of the company. The challenges of global talent selection and mobility of labor, established by a career concept that transcends national borders and organizational groups and the emergence of virtual collaboration on international projects requires companies to develop new skills in their employees to be effective in the complexity of today's contexts. The workforces are people, and as we are human, we are all different from various points of view. This paper aims to answer the question: “Is culture really all that International Human Resource Manager is about?” I’ve analyzed the differences between HRM and IHRM based on the concept of diversity, characteristics that influence both topics but in a different way. After this, the next stop is to define IHRM and the concept of culture to reach the conclusion that managing cultural differences in an international team is the major challenge to IHRM. Due to the movement of employees between foreign subsidiaries and headquarters and between foreign locales, HRM professionals are likely to...
Words: 3258 - Pages: 14
...CROSS-CULTURAL CHALLENGES IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Word Count: 2170 Cross-cultural Challenges in International Business Management has been one of the key elements of companies in most cases. A major responsibility of managers at all levels is to encourage organization members to perform to the best of their abilities in ways that help the organization achieve its goals (George & Jones 2002). In order to do so, managers need to first have an understanding of their subordinates. The better managers perceive subordinates, the more they are capable to motivate them. In addition, it is the same situation for manager and customer relations. A manager cannot satisfy his customer unless he has a very good sense of perception. Globalization is a very popular term recently. In a way, this term represents the shortening of distances and disappearance of borders (Friedman 2007). Borders within Europe, at the present, are almost forgotten. As the regulations on FDI were loosened in China with her accession to World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001, the three continents America, Europe and Asia are much closer to each other than they have ever been. Multinational corporations (MNC) have spread all over the world. Collaboration with many companies independent of national borders became a must for MNCs to survive. Collaboration with companies all around the world cannot be managed without a multicultural workforce and cultural differences in it. Having a multicultural workforce...
Words: 2655 - Pages: 11
...Multicultural Workforce Eisha McKinney, Tuan-Anh Nguyen, Audrey Leonard, and Dontay Barnett COMM/215 April 2, 2015 Professor Rosemary Sykes Multicultural Workforce Introduction Case study analyses focus on Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc., which is facing a major issue related to cultural change. The company faces problems with the change in culture especially the extent to which multicultural teamwork has affected the company’s teamwork and communications within the organization. Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc., which was started in 1986, serves as a solution provider to its clients by providing phone services and data service in lodging services including restaurants and others in public venues all over the world. The need to serve the whole population has landed the company into problems for they have to hire workers from diverse cultures. The companies need to meet the modern organizational structure (one with employees from a wide range culture, gender, religion, race, ethnicity, and age) landed into more trouble. Worldwide Telecommunications, Inc., needs to reorganize the structure to accommodate multicultural differences to avoid future issues in the company. Multiculturalism can affect Team Work and Communication in Large Companies There are various implications of cross cultural communication and teamwork in big companies, but this is a broad study that has been explored by many researchers. The big companies in corporate America...
Words: 562 - Pages: 3
