Managing Cultural Diversity in the Workplace: Research Project

This research project investigates the significance of managing cultural diversity in the workplace, with a specific focus on SELCO Builders Warehouse. The study aims to understand the conceptual framework of equality and cultural diversity, identify issues related to workplace discrimination, and analyze effective strategies for managing diversity. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review, survey-based data collection, and data analysis to explore themes such as the maintenance of diversity and equality within the company, the types of strategies and practices employed, the role of managers in building relationships and resolving conflicts, the issues of discrimination faced by employees, the reporting of issues to top management, the impact of diversity on workplace culture, and the influence of diversity on productivity. The findings reveal insights into the current state of diversity management within the organization, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement. The project concludes with reflections, recommendations, and suggestions for further research to enhance diversity and promote a positive and inclusive work environment.

Research project
1

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Literature review..............................................................................................................................4
Research methodology.....................................................................................................................5
Data analysis and interpretation.......................................................................................................6
Research outcomes.........................................................................................................................14
Covered in PPT..........................................................................................................................14
Reflection and recommendations...................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
Recommendation...........................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................19

INTRODUCTION
Every organization consists of diversified work force which enable them to achieve
goals. The people belong to various caste, creed etc and work together to achieve common goal.
Moreover, there are many ways of dealing with diversified work force. Also, it is necessary to
maintain diversity culture so that positive environment is developed. However, discrimination
needs to be eliminated so that people respect each other dignity and values. This results in
boosting employee morale and trust. They start communicating with others in effective way. The
management is required to manage diversity through proper practice. For that various strategies
are followed which allows in providing positive culture to all employees. There are many
benefits of managing diversity at workplace. It results in increasing efficiency of staff and their
productivity. Apart from it, firm is able to gain competitive advantage within industry. This
results in creating a strong brand image of them in market. Employee also feels encouraged when
they get positive feedback from people. (Tuan, 2020)
Aims and objectives
Aim
“To identify the significance of managing cultural diversity in workplace: A study on SELCO
Builders Warehouse”
Objectives
 To understand conceptual framework of equality and cultural diversity
 To investigate issues related to discrimination at workplace
 To analyses ways of managing cultural diversity in SELCO Builders Warehouse
Research Questions
 What is the meaning of equality and cultural diversity in organisational context?
 What are the main issues faced by employees and business in the situation of workplace
discrimination?
 What are the major ways or tools through which company can manage workplace cultural
diversity?
Rationale
3

Equality and diversity is the burning issue as many organization are dealing with the
same issue. Due to diverse workplace culture companies many time fail to manage it properly
that affect working efficiency of company. Hence this topic is being selected for further research
so that suitable solution can be find out to manage cultural diversity at organisation. Research
has completed education in the same field hence have knowledge about it so this is an interest
area for scholar hence this topic has been selected for further investigation (Dennissen and van
den Brink, 2020). Scholar has knowledge and also has capability to handle diverse workforce. As
individual has worked in company as HR, from where researcher gained insight detail about
significance of managing cultural diversity in organisation. This skill and experience has
encouraged the individual to choose this topic for further investigation.
Literature review
According to Froidevaux and Wang, 2020 work place diversity is helpful for business in
managing productivity in better manner. But it is very difficult for the management to deal with
different race, culture people. Hiring of diverse workforce helps in getting pool of talented
people those who can contribute well in the success of business unit. Also when diversity is
maintained it enables in reduction in conflict as there is effective communication between
employee. They interact and discuss personal problems. Furthermore, they gain knowledge about
ethics and value of others. There are several strategies which is followed by company to manage
diversity. By providing training to all it led to enhance in their and development. Besides that,
providing equal opportunity for growth makes it easy to manage staff. There are different ways
as well on basis of which employees are motivated. By providing offer and benefits by
measuring their performance diversity is maintained. However, there are certain policies as well
which is followed and applied by organization in diversity.
Suryani and Rahmaningtyas, 2020 stated that diverse workforce helps in aligning culture
of organisation in better manner. In order to manage this culture diverse workforce companies
need to enhance communication at workplace. Proper communication develop relationship
between employees and managers. It will led to solving of conflicts and sharing of personal
problems with one another. The staff interact with others and develop relationship with them. In
this way they get to know about values and ethics of other. However, manager also engage with
staff to develop strong relations. In this way, diversity is maintained. It is necessary to form
policy of cultural diversity so that things are clear to managers. It is followed by people and it

does not led to any discrimination. Besides that, they get insight about values of organisation and
what is prohibited and not to be done. Alongside, policy is followed at all levels of company that
is in either recruitment, training, performance appraisal etc.
As said by Sukalova and Ceniga, 2020 encouraging team by giving them rewards and
recognition is another way to manage diverse workforce. Then it develops a feeling of
belongingness among them and they become loyal towards firm and work hard to meet
organisational objectives. Along with it, giving them rewards without any discrimination create a
positive feeling among them. They start supporting each other in completion of task. Moreover,
it leads to increase in team work. So, there is effective communication as well within them. The
training and development needs to be given to all people. This improve their skills and
knowledge. They gain experience of doing task. Other than this, growth opportunities has to be
provided equally to all. It result in making things easy and reducing conflict among them.
Research methodology
Activities/Week W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8
Selection of
research topic
Framing aim
and objectives
Gathering
information
about topic by
using literatures
of other authors
Selection of
research
methods to find
out suitable
5

answers of
research
questions
Data analyses
Framing
conclusion
Submission
Edit as per
requirement and
final submission
Data analysis and interpretation
Theme 1 in company diversity and equality is maintained
Q-1 do you think that in your company diversity and equality is
maintained?
frequency
Yes 10
No 5
Not sure 5
Total 20

Interpretation- it can be identified from above graph that a survey was conducted in SELCO
builders warehouse for managing diversity. So, it is stated that out of 20 staff, 10 said yes
diversity is effectively managed, 5 said no and 5 was not sure about it. Thus, in company there is
diversified work force working in it. They belong to different caste, creed, etc, and respect each
other dignity and values. The staff is having strong relations with one another. Along with it,
manager also monitor behaviour of staff. The policies are properly implemented as well.
Theme 2 type of strategies and practices are followed in it
Q- 2 what type of strategies and practices are followed in it? frequency
Recruitment and selection 8
Training and development 6
7
Yes No Not sure
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
frequency

Performance appraisal 6
Total 20
Interpretation- a study was done to find out importance of diversity in SELCO builders
warehouse. By interpreting data it is analysed that 8 staff said recruitment and selection diversity
is maintained, 6 said by training and development and 6 said performance appraisal. Therefore,
in company diversity practices are effectively followed. This has enabled in recruiting varied
people and providing them equal training. Furthermore, performance appraisal is done properly.
In this way, company is able to maintain diversity with help of these practices. They have formed
policy as well on all these elements.
Recruitment and selection
Training and development
Performance appraisal
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
frequency

Theme 3 manager build strong relations and solve conflict quickly
Q-3 does manager try to build strong relations and solve conflict
quickly?
frequency
Yes 12
No 4
Not sure 4
Total 20
9
Yes
No
Not sure

Interpretation- the scholar conducted a survey in company. For that primary data was gathered
of 20 employees. In that it was evaluated that out of 20 participants, 12 said yes manager build
relation and solve conflict. 4 said no and 4 was not sure of it. Hence, in this way it becomes easy
for manager to maintain diversity. Besides that, by solving conflicts quickly there is less negative
impact on others. Also, manager take strict action for it.
Theme 4 type of issues do you face related to discrimination at workplace
Q-4 What type of issues do you face related to discrimination at
workplace?
frequency
racism 6
Gender inequality 10
harassment 2
Physical abuse 2
Total 20

Interpretation- in order to achieve aims and objectives, a study was done in SELCO builders
warehouse. The researcher gathered primary data for it of 20 samples. It was analysed from data
that 6 staff said they face racism issue, 10 said gender inequality, 2 said harassment and 2 said
physical abuse. Hence, within company there still exits some issues and most common is gender
inequality. It highly impact on diversity and on culture.
Theme 5 issues are reported to top management and proper action is taken
Q-5 does these issues are reported to top management and proper
action is taken?
frequency
Yes 15
No 3
Not sure 2
Total 20
11
racism Gender inequality harassment Physical abuse
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
frequency

Interpretation- from above graph it is analysed that in SELCO builders warehouse a research
was done to find out managing diversity. For that questionnaire was used to gather primary data.
It is identified that 15 staff said yes issues are reported to top management and action is taken. 3
said no and 2 were not sure of it. So, it is evaluated that top management is highly concerned for
it. They quickly take action if issue is reported. This shows that diversity is effectively managed
by them and there are strict policy formed as well in it.
Theme 6 diversity provides a positive work place culture
Q-6 do you think that diversity provides a positive work place
culture?
frequency
Yes 16
Yes
No
Not sure
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
frequency