Managing cultural diversity - strategies for organizational success

Abstract

The strategic role of the HR Manager for the overall management of the organization brings success for the company. However, the traditional role and function of the HR Manager has undergone many changes. He has to face more challenges in the present days as never before. It is mostly due to more diversified employees in the present day organizations. Among various issues like quality, productivity, talent retention, rightsizing the work force, customer satisfaction, total quality management; management of the diversified workforce has become one of the crucial HR issues. The differences in values, belief system, behaviour, attitude, customs, habits among the workforce makes diversity among them. More or less, managing the cultural diversity in an organization and rebuilding a culture  in tune with the international expectations to achieve a long-term success; is really the challenging area of concern for the HR professionals. The problems of expatriates & repatriates; organizational dynamics, training & development programmes, cultural integration and how to develop global  managers with professionalism, cross-cultural sensitivity, adaptability to the host and home country’s environment and allied aspects have been discussed in this article. In this conceptual paper, an integrative approach for the effective management of the diversified cultural work force has been suggested. The futuristic trend of employment will further expand from regional market to global market opening more avenues for foreign assignments. In this context, the quality of expatriate employees and  management seems to be even more critical than in domestic operations. Confidence building, counselling and maintaining kinship relationship are vital aspects to be dealt with great care for the management of cross-cultural issues.