Cross-calture management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cross-calture management - Essay Example Researchers studying the success of cultural diversity programs have identified models that can be implemented into organizational environments. Having support for of senior management for diversity programs is identified as a major theme among most of the program models (Matton & Hernandez, 2004; Jayne & Dipboye 2004). This paper will examine the background of diversity in organizations, benefits of workplace diversity, challenges of diversity, popular diversity management models, the relevant research related to the importance of having support of senior management for diversity programs, and the individuals responsible for implementing diversity programs, that is, the diversity practitioner. Overview Workplace Diversity and its Importance Diversity can be defined as, "a mix of people of different socially relevant group identities working or living together in a defined social system" (Cox & Beale, 1997, p.13). Healthy workplace diversity can provide an organization with the tools to improve problem solving, enhance marketing, be more creative and flexible, and ultimately improve productivity and "the bottom line" (Thomas, 2006; Cox, 1994). While a company may recruit in order to create a climate of diversity, it can simultaneously open the door to truly hiring the best available talent in the global market instead of another "company man." Diversity promotes a multiplicity of viewpoints, thus creating the potential to generate more creative ideas and stimulate consideration of non  ­obvious alternatives (Kyriakidou, 2009). Further, diverse groups bring a broader and richer base of experience. This dynamic tends to create a higher level of critical analysis and a lower probability of "group think" (Cox, 1994). For example, studies show that women tend to be more tolerant of ambiguity than men. As a result, they tend to excel in completing tasks that are cognitively complex and/or ambiguous. Individuals with bilingual capabilities are another group that dem onstrates a great capacity for flexibility. Thus, workgroups that incorporate individuals with these characteristics are likely to demonstrate greater group cognitive flexibility (Cox, 1994). With the minority population growing, organizations are finding the need to adapt products, advertising and services to appeal to diverse interests. Studies show that members of minority cultural groups are more likely to give patronage to representatives of their own cultural group (Cox, 1994). Thus, organizations find the need to have their workforce mirror, at least in part, their clientele. In the for-profit sector, it has been seen that the evolving demographics in the United States have had a significant impact on the manner in which products currently need to be marketed in order to maintain or increase market shares. For example, Cox (1994) notes two examples of cosmetic companies, Avon and Maybelline, changing either their product or transferring the management of an otherwise unprofit able market of minorities, to people of color. Under different management these companies have adapted their products using shades that are more palatable to people of color and have reflected these changes in their advertisement. The results have been very positive and profitable for these companies in a previously

Mcdonalds recommendations for a better future Essay

Mcdonalds recommendations for a better future - Essay Example The company has a great emphasis on customer and employee satisfaction; it is also very innovative with new trends and tastes being introduced in new products. Despite the company’s success, it is faced with intense competition from other food chains such as KFC and Burger King. Therefore, it is necessary to McDonalds’ leaders to adjust and improve the organization in several areas as a way of surviving this intense competition in the future. The company should apply efficient reward and performance practices so as to attract result driven professionals in the company who can succeed in performance-based environment. This technique is a crucial employee motivator. Several ways of employee motivation include; giving them bonus payments, recognizing hardworking employees and giving them authority. McDonalds should consider giving employees bonus packages as per their performance. Continental Airlines introduced a bonus incentive package where employees would receive $65 monthly for ensure on time flight operations, and it has improved its services. An effective reward management system instills a sense of ownership to the employees as they tend to focus on job improvement in the company. One disadvantage of the strategy is that the employees can be de-motivated if the goals set to receive a bonus are too hard to achieve (Puffer 1999). Being a multinational company, McDonalds should use a decentralized organizational structure as opposed to a centralized structure to allow managers make appropriate and pragmatic decisions for their outlets contextually. This is because restaurants in different countries might not be faced with similar challenges. Decentralized decision-making allows a subsidiary company to make its decisions to solve local problems better than the parent company making decisions for a business in the foreign country. The disadvantage with decentralized decision-making is that if a wrong