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Diversity in the workplace : Managing a culturally diverse workforce in the Irish hospitality sector

Ntukula, Annette (2013) Diversity in the workplace : Managing a culturally diverse workforce in the Irish hospitality sector. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the concept of diversity management in the workplace, with particular emphasis on the hospitality sector in Ireland today. The principal objective of this study was to examine how organisations in the hospitality sector can efficiently perform in a diverse work environment and to formulate a conceptualised view of diversity initiatives as being an important contributor to their competitive advantage in today’s economic environment. This dissertation consists of five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction which contains the background and overview, the aim, objectives, question and an outline of the methodology. The second chapter is the literature review and addresses, through academic research, the aim, objectives and question. The literature review is followed by the methodology chapter which then leads to the analysis and discussion in chapter four. The final chapter is the conclusion. The methodological framework of this research consisted of a combination of both primary and secondary research. The secondary research examined the literature through journal articles, books and the internet, while the primary research adopted a qualitative method based on semi-structured interviews.

Results from the analysis of the research data indicated certain trends in relation to diversity management initiatives in the Irish hospitality sector, namely flexible working practices and equality. Also, the findings established that legislation and demographic changes are primary driving forces behind diversity management in hotels in Ireland followed by diversity management initiatives taken by major USA hotel groups such as the Hilton Hotel. Other findings indicated challenges, which included language barriers, flexibility issues, different humour of foreign staff. Findings in relation to organisational benefits indicated employee morale, a sense of pride and inclusion, different sets of skills and creativity from staff. However the findings in relation to the financial benefits to organisations were difficult to establish, this might be due to the fact that there is very little research in the area of cultural diversity in the Irish hospitality sector, which will be an area for future research.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Diversity
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Specific Industries > Hospitality Industry
Divisions: School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User: Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited: 18 Nov 2013 16:33
Last Modified: 18 Nov 2013 16:34
URI: https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/834

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