Diversity Management: The Effects on Cultural Workgroup Processes and Outcomes.

Diversity management is an issue of key importance to all organisations due to globalisation and internationalisation of trades. This study investigates the effects of diversity management initiatives such as recruitment and selection practices, training, policies and how it moderates the relationship between diversity and communication, conflict, decision making and problem solving in cultural diverse groups and ultimately the performance of the group, and equally the satisfaction to remain in the group. A model of diversity management was used to assess the level of diversity management in a multinational communication organisation. The objectives were tested using multi - method data collective techniques, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The analyses and findings from this study suggest that, diversity alone, can have a negative impact on group processes and outcomes which could prove costly to organisation. However, if ffectively managed and well-coordinated, the negative impacts can be reduced and organisation can capitalize on the positive effects that cultural diversity has to offer in workgroup processes and the outcome will be of beneficial advantage to the organisation