Diversity in the workplace: a review of theory and methodologies and propositions for future research

Titolo Rivista SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Autori/Curatori Debora Gottardello
Anno di pubblicazione 2019 Fascicolo 2019/153
Lingua Inglese Numero pagine 20 P. 202-221 Dimensione file 383 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2019-153012
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Globalization has given rise to a great diversity in the composition of people in organizations. Diversity management is therefore key to create growth in today’s competitive global marketplace. This work develops a literature review related to the existing models for managing diversity covering the period from 1980 until 2016. Furthermore, it identifies limitations in previous models. More specifically, the literature review reveals that there is a lack of information about how these models can be transferred from the headquarters to the subsidiaries. Therefore, the contribution of this paper is to suggest how the models should be adapted when they are directed to host countries. Our aim is to highlight the limitations of the developed models with regards to the translation of the diversity management practices to the subsidiaries. Accordingly, a model that will enable MNCs to ensure a global strategy is suggested. Taking advantage of the potential incorporated in a culturally diverse work team should be at the top of every international company’s aims. Further studies should reassess local practices of diversity management to find out how this universal management model is translated.

La globalizzazione ha comportato una più ampia diversità nella composizione della forza lavoro nelle organizzazioni produttive. Di conseguenza la gestione della diversità è diventata una nuova leva per la crescita aziendale nel mercato globale. L’articolo presenta i risultati di una rassegna della letteratura scientifica relativa ai modelli esistenti per la gestione della diversità, riferita al perido 1980-2016, e identifica i limiti di tali modelli. Dalla rassegna emerge in particolare che mancano informazioni su come nei casi di imprese multinazionali i modelli adottati nelle sedi centrali possano essere trasferiti alle filiali decentrate. L’articolo suggerisce alcune ipotesi che riguardano la traduzione delle pratiche di gestione della diversità nelle sedi decentrate in una prospettiva di definizione di una strategia globale. L’analisi evidenzia la rilevanza strategica di sfruttare il potenziale incorporato in gruppi di lavoro culturalmente diversificati e la necessità di diversificare le modalità di trasferimento delle pratiche di gestione della diversità dalle sedi centrali verso quelle periferiche.

Keywords:Workforce diversity, diversity management, cultura della diversità

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  • “We choose this CV because we choose diversity” – What do eye movements say about the choices recruiters make? Sayaka Osanami Törngren, Carolin Schütze, Eva Van Belle, Marcus Nyström, in Frontiers in Sociology 1222850/2024
    DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1222850
  • Towards a Better Workplace Environment—Empirical Measurement to Manage Diversity in the Workplace Elwira Gross-Gołacka, Teresa Kupczyk, Justyna Wiktorowicz, in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health /2022 pp.15851
    DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315851

Debora Gottardello, Diversity in the workplace: a review of theory and methodologies and propositions for future research in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 153/2019, pp 202-221, DOI: 10.3280/SL2019-153012