University Essay: Cross-Cultural Management and Workplace Diversity

This essay examines the multifaceted aspects of cross-cultural management and its implications for workplace diversity. It begins by defining diversity and its dimensions, emphasizing the increasing importance of cultural diversity in today's globalized business environment. The essay delves into the impact of cultural diversity on employee morale, motivation, and workplace productivity, highlighting both the advantages and the challenges that arise. It explores how cultural diversity can boost creativity and innovation while also addressing potential issues like communication barriers and conflicts. Furthermore, the essay discusses the responsibilities of leadership in promoting cultural diversity, including the importance of effective communication, training, and addressing biases. The conclusion underscores the benefits of well-managed corporate diversity and the need for leaders to effectively implement diversity initiatives to foster a positive and productive work environment.

Running head: CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
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Introduction
Diversity is considered as understanding, recognizing and considering the differences
among the people irrespective of their race, age, gender, ethnicity and physical ability.
Primary differences such as age, gender and age among individuals can impact the initial
encounters and can be recognized by the people. These differences can be served as filters by
the people to view the world. The secondary dimensions of differences among individuals
include religion, education, and country background and income level. In the initial
encounters, these differences might not get noticed (Alnaqbi and Castillo 2017). Usually
these differences get noticed after new encounters among the individuals. With the advent of
globalization, interaction among different individuals has become common. Individuals today
are considered to be more open minded with the increase in the level of competition in every
sector. Diversity can have not advantage and disadvantage to a business organization. It is a
challenge for the business organization to efficiently extract the essence of diversity and
manage differences in the business organization tactfully for the betterment and improvement
among the people in the business organization.
Discussion and analysis
Cultural diversity
As mentioned by Ayega and Muathe (2018), in today’s business organization,
diversity has gained much importance. Human resources are considered to be one of the most
important resources of the business organization. They are considered to be the basic
foundation of the business organization and unit of change for the people. In the workplace
diversity, culture is considered to be one of the most important dimensions which influence
the flow of the communication. As stated by John and Roberts (2017), culture is considered

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as the beliefs, values, behaviours and communication patterns of the people belonging to the
same social group. According to Goswami and Rangaswamy (2019), there is variety of
human cultures within a particular region as a whole or in the world. This is considered as
Multiculturalism within a particular business organization. There are different ways in which
individuals organize themselves in shared mobility and their ways of interaction.
According to Harris (2017), workplace diversity in the business organization can
bring forth various challenges as well have help an individual to benefit from each other by
accepting and understanding the differences of the people. Cultural diversity has significant
impact on the employee morale and motivation. Lambert (2016), suggests that cultural
diversity in a business organization improces and develop the workplace as employees can
gain knowledge and learning experiences by interactions with different employees within the
business organization. However, according to Li et al. (2017), it is essential for the business
organization to embrace diversity and consider its advantages to the business organization. It
enables the employees of the business organization to increase their adaptability in the
culturally diverse workplace.
Impact of cultural diversity on employee morale and motivation
The importance of employee morale is highly recognized by the business
organizations in today highly competitive and dynamic business environment. As commented
by, Modi (2018), it is essential for the business organization to build and maintain a string
culture within the business organization to keep up the morale and motivation of the business
organization. Cultural diversity in workplace plays an important role in the motivation and
morale of the employees. Cultural diversity in the business organization is considered as
cultural competence of the employees. Having diverse cultural employees within the business
organization enables the business organization to have diverse set of unique solutions to

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particular set of issues and problems faced. It has been suggested by Roberson (2019), that
cultural diversity boosts creativity among the operating teams within the organization.
Research and surveys consistently suggests that exposing individuals to diverse experience
with multiple perspectives can be valuable for the business organizations. According to Rojas
(2018), the managers and the leaders of the business organization therefore, encourage
cultural diversity in the business organization to inspire and motivate the employees and
increase their ability to perform different activities. Increased motivation and morale among
the employees and the individuals of the business organization can also increase the
profitability and productivity of the business organization. As suggested by Sharma et al.
(2017), cultural diversity in the workplace can improve and enhance employee engagement
and ethnicity. Multiple perspectives in the business organization enable the employees and
the individuals to build a trustworthy relationship among each other. Employee engagement
in the workplace can increase employee motivation which is highly beneficial for the
business organization. This can also reduce employee turnover, which in turn increases the
productivity and performance of the business organization.
However, according to Shresha and Taylor (2017),cultural diversity in the business
organizations can bring forth many challenges and issues if not managed in an effective and
efficient manner. These challenges and issues can costs time and money for the business
organizations if not managed properly. There are many consequences of diverse culture in an
n organization, it includes unhealthy conflicts and tensions among the employees, loss of
business performance, increases levels if conflicts, complaints and legal actions, loss of
employees and loss of investment. Therefore, it is essential for the business organization to
manage the conflicts and other challenges that can be faced by the business organization by
diverse culture. As mentioned by Singh (2018), it is critical for the business organization to

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take full advantage of the diverse culture in the workplace. Diverse workplace might bring
forth cultural and language barriers, which might be effectively dealt with. Ineffective
communication is considered to be one of the main barriers to successful cultural diversity in
the business organization. Despite the challenges, the business organization must consider it
as an opportunity and manage effectively to develop cost advantage.
Impact of cultural diversity of workplace productivity
It has been argued by Alnaqbi and Castillo (2017), that cultural diversity in the
workplace is beneficial to the business organization in various ways especially in terms of
work performance and work productivity. As mentioned earlier, effectiveness and efficiency
of the management in managing diverse culture can be valuable for the business organization
in the long run sustainability and profitability of the business organization. The productivity
of the business organization is highly associated with motivated employees due to
multiculturalism within the workplace. As mentioned by Ayega and Muathe (2018), diverse
culture in the business organization enables the employees to learn from different individuals
with different skills and opinions. This initiates positive impact on the employees and
improves their morale, thereby encouraging productivity and reduces of employee turnover in
the business organization. Ability of the individuals to communicate with different types of
people Ability of the individuals to effectively communicate with different parts of the world
will enable the business organizations to built strong relationship and understand the
differences in culture and in the ways of performing the business works.
However, it has been argued by Goswami and Rangaswamy (2019),that having too
many different opinions can lead to conflicts and miscommunications which if not managed
timely can have negative impacts on the productivity of the business organization. Excessive
amount of opinions and ideas to simple problems might lead to reduction in productivity.

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Different culture people having different opinion and past experiences might have different
viewpoint to certain issues and challenges. This can negatively impact the productivity of the
business organization.
Impact of cultural diversity of workplace creativity
According to Harris (2017), cultural diversity of the business organization can boosts
creativity in the business organization. Creativity and innovation are two most important
ways of enhancing the work performance and productivity of the business organization. In
order to promote creativity in the business organization, cultural diversity is workplace is
highly essential. Cultural diversity in the workplace can bring forth different ideas and
opinions which can lead to creativity and innovation in the organization. However, as stated
by Li et al. (2017), the company might also face challenges with communication, language
barrier and differences in opinion. Lack of interaction and ineffective communication in the
business organization can lead to negative impacts on the productivity and performance of
the business. Diversity effectives on innovation can be negative.
Effect of cultural diversity on groups and teams
As mentioned by Modi (2018), cultural diversity in the business organization can lead
to positive employee morale and motivation, enhances productivity and performance and
boost innovation and creativity in the business organization. Diverse culture in the business
organization brings forth new ideas and opinion from different individuals having different
perspectives and experiences from the past. This can have positive impact on the operating
teams with the business organization. As mentioned by Roberson (2019), having healthy
competition among the teams or groups in the business organization can have positive
impacts on the operations and boost productivity in the organization. The intercultural
exchange in the teams can improve individual employee in the organization. However, it has

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been criticized by Sharma et al. (2017), that majority of the humans being undertake decision
on biases rather than logic. This unconscious biasness can have negative impacts on the
operating teams and decision making. Therefore, effective implementation of diverse
workplace can be a challenge for the business organizations.
Responsibility of the leadership team to promote cultural diversity in the workplace
According to Shresha and Taylor (2017), it is the responsibility of the leaders and the
managers of the business organization to initiate effective flow of communication in the
workplace. Removing communication barriers is of vital importance of the success of diverse
workforce. Communication is of paramount importance for attaining the value of workplace
diversity. The employees of the business organization must understand the value of
workplace diversity in the business organization especially during the process of
implementation. As mentioned by Sharma et al. (2017), the leaders and the mangers of the
business organization can organize diversity training and diversity plans to attain its goals
and objectives. In order to overcome language barriers in the organization, the leaders must
decide on a common language appropriate for all the employees. This can reduce the level of
miscommunication. The leaders must consider the views and opinions of all the employees
and identify the best opinion. The leaders must have the ability to understand the signs of
hostility in the organization. The training can educate the employees and mitigate biasness
among the employees.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above arguments, it can be concluded that cultural diversity in the
workplace is highly beneficial for the business organizations especially considering the

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highly competitive and dynamic business environment. Diversity in the business organization
can bring forth many positive benefits to the organization along with potential challenges.
These challenges are inconvenient for the organizations and have the potential to damage the
reputation of the company and be counterproductive to the companies. Therefore, it is the
responsibility of the leaders and the managers of the business organization to combat the
challenges and effectively implement diversity initiative in the business organization. It can
be said from the above arguments and discussion that well managed corporate diversity is
good for the business.

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