Influence of Cultural Diversity on Workplace Conflict: A Study on Apple Inc.

Research Project

TITLE
“Equality and diversity in the workplace”
INTRODUCTION
Equality is ensuring persons and group of persons are not treated differentially and less
favourably, according to their particular protected characteristics such as areas of race, disability,
gender, belief, sexual orientation, age or religion (Hillson and Murray-Webster, 2017). Diversity
purposes to recognise value and respect employee’s differences to contribute and also realise
their full potential by encouraging an inclusive and effective culture for entire staff. Therefore,
within a workplace, equality and diversity plays important role in improving employees as well
as an organisational performance. For this report, Apple is a chosen American multinational
technology organisation. It was founded by Steve Jobs in 1976 and it headquartered in Apple
Park Way, Cupertino, California, U.S.
Research proposal that clearly defines a research question or hypothesis, supported by a literature
review
Overview of the research:
Cultural diversity introduces as a quality of diverse culture, as opposed to monoculture,
international monoculture and homogenization of cultures. Culture diversity also introduce to
having diverse or different cultures with respect of each other's differences. Diversity within
workplace is significant for workers because it manifests itself in making an effective reputation
for company, leading to enhanced probability and chances for employees. Conflict is an active
disagreement between workforce with opposing opinion or principles. Cultural conflict
introduces as a kind of conflict that occurs when different cultural beliefs and values clash.
Cultural conflicts develop because of differences in norms and values of employees from
different cultures (Johnson, 2019). Along with this, conflict is a major issue that occurs due to
cultural diversity. This issue has unfavourable impact over business performance as well as
growth of Apple. Company faced this kind of issue at their workplace because of having
different employees whose belongs with diverse background and culture.
According to the Armstrong, M (2009), Human resource management (HRM) is a com-
prehensile as well as coherent approach to the employment and development of people. Human
resource management can be regarded as an effective philosophy regarding how employee
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should be managed or controlled, which is underpinned with a number of theories relating to the
behaviour of people and organizations. Main role of human resource manger is to recruit
knowledgeable people who have understanding about the business. They also develop policies
related with equality and diversity that helps them in retention of employees for longer time.
As per the opinion of Stredwick, J. (2005), human resource management is the process of
recruiting and selecting talented and diverse workforce who have understanding about the
business.
According to the Torrington, L. Hall and S. Taylor (2017), Today's HR shouldn't simply
enhance the worker experience, it needs to be built around it. Human Resources and Learning
Services from Conduent can help you pass past coverage and transactions to empower your
personnel and power transformation throughout your complete employer.
Statement of the problem:
Workplace Conflict is a major issue that occurs at workplace due to cultural diversity.
There are different negative effects of conflict such as decreased productivity, disruptions,
turnover, absenteeism, termination and project failure. These are major effects that negatively
impacted business performance of Apple. Conflict may also maximise employee anxiety, reduce
job satisfaction and effect relationship. As an output, workplace conflict negatively impacts
individual as well as team performance, and reduce the team productivity (Kulik, 2014). These
are major issues faced by Apple Inc. while having diverse workforce at their workplace. In order
to overcome this issue, company must be develop cultural diversity practice. As it helps them to
maintain workplace conflict and improve their performance effectively.
Aim:
Main aim of this research is “To identify the influence of cultural diversity practice over
reducing the workplace conflict. A study on Apple Inc.
Research objectives :
 To understand the influence of cultural diversity at workplace.
 To analyse main issues that occurs at workplace due to conflict.
 To identify different advantages that can be accomplished by Apple Inc. with the
reduction of conflict. To articulate different practices of cultural diversity that is benefiting in reducing the
workplace conflict.
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Research Questions:
 What is the influence of cultural diversity at workplace?
 What are the main issues that occurs at workplace due to workplace conflict?
 What are the different advantages that can be accomplished by Apple Inc. with the
reduction of workplace conflict? How different practices of cultural diversity helps Apple Inc. in reducing workplace
conflict?
Reasons or rationale for choosing this research project
There are certain rationale for selecting this topic or research. The first rationale behind
selecting this research is its larger scope in professional as well as personal manner. Also, it is
more easier for them to collect data on current topic linked with this is available at internet.
Personal reason or rationale for selecting this topic in investigator's perspective is mainly
associated with the improvement of their skills and knowledge. This research will allow
investigator to enhance their analytical, literature review, communication, data collection and
many other skills which is mainly associated with this investigation (Kulkarni and Gopakumar,
2014). This will support investigator to conduct future research in effective manner.
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Literature Review
This is a main part of research project which helps researcher to identify in-depth
information about the study. Main purpose of literature review is to gain a deep knowningness or
knowledge of the existing investigation and debates which is relevant to a specific research topic.
Literature review also helps researcher to analyse opinion of authors about research aim and
objectives.
The influence of cultural diversity at workplace.
As per the views presented by Amaded, 2019, Cultural diversity at workplace can be
observed in different including race, language, nationality, age, sexual harassment, religion,
socio-economic status and so on. It has been later seen that an organisation are needed to
emphasis on managing cultural diversity in effective and appropriate way so that they
accomplish each activities without any sort of barrier or conflict at workplace.
On the other hand, Kulik, 2014, cultural diversity is also beneficial in reducing these
issues appropriately. The impacts of cultural diversity within a workplace can be both positive
and negative. Some unfavourable effects include dysfunctional lost productivity, conflicts and
issue to attain harmony in team settings. Favourable effects include a strong knowledge and
understanding base developed by a variety of cultural experiences and a greater tendency to
enlarge the business in foreign cultures.
The main issues that occurs at workplace due to workplace conflict.
According to the Miranda Brookins, 2019, there are different issues or problems that
occur at workplace due to conflict. This issue includes, decrease in productivity, employee
turnover impacts, conflict escalation and violence, psychological Problem, mental health
concerns and so on. These are major issues that have negative impact over business performance
of Apple Inc. Some issues of workplace conflict will be explained in detailed as below:
Decrease in productivity: When an enterprise spends more of its time dealing with
workplace conflict, workforce take time away from emphasising on the main goals or objectives
they are tasked with accomplishing. This issue causes employees to emphasis less on the activity
at hand much more on communicating regarding conflict and venting regarding frustrations.
High employee turnover: Members of an organisation who are progressively frustrated
with the conflict within company may decide to leave current organisation. As it is a major issue
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of conflict which has direct impact over business performance and success of an organisation as
well as workers also (Kundu and Mor, 2017).
The different advantages that can be accomplished by Apple Inc. with the reduction of
workplace conflict.
On the basis of thoughts represented by Kundu and Mor, 2017. it has been seen that an
organisation who focuses on reducing workplace conflict are gaining range of advantages that is
beneficial for them in accomplishing their organisational goals and objectives in quicker. There
are some common advantages that could be gain by Apple Inc. such as improvement in
employee’s performance, maximise in employee participation, reduction in employee turnover,
Better achievement of organisational task or activities etc. All of this advantage will
collaboratively assist an organisation in gaining competitive benefits and attaining success.
As per the view presented by, Kundu and Mor, (2017), there are many other advantages
or benefits gained by Apple Inc. with the reduction of conflict at workplace. Building of strong
relationship, leads to goal achievement, enhancement of commitment, generates new insights etc.
are main benefits. As all these are consider major advantages which are achieved by Apple Inc.
by reducing workplace conflict.
Different practices of cultural diversity helps Apple Inc. in reducing workplace conflict.
According to the (Holmes, 2016), it can be said that different number of the organisation
operates its business at global marketplace and now they emphasising on exploring different
ways via which they can easily reduce conflict. There are some main practices that are helpful
and essential in reducing this conflict includes providing conflict resolution training for both
men and women at workplace, help staff develop positive work relationships, provide
communication skills training, develop strong communication channels, providing equal
opportunities to all employees, providing flexible working and so on. These are main practices
of cultural diversity which helps Apple Inc. to reduce conflict at workplace and gain better
results within given time duration.
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