Finnish SMEs’ perspectives on workforce diversity
Doan, Duong (2016)
Doan, Duong
Lahden ammattikorkeakoulu
2016
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2016060511925
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2016060511925
Tiivistelmä
Workforce diversity has been gaining popularity in the US since the 1960s. Giant companies worldwide have realized the benefits of workforce diversity despite having to deal with the challenges it brings. This study examines the workforce diversity situation in Finland through exploiting the perspectives of Finnish SMEs on workforce diversity. The focus will be on their experiences of a diverse workforce, benefits a diverse workforce brings and what challenges the SMEs are facing in relation to workforce diversity. The study also points out essential reasons why some SMEs hesitate to employ foreigners.
For the research, the author selects a deductive approach and qualitative research method to gain insights of the phenomenon. Secondary data is collected from books, journals, reports and other electronic sources. Primary data is gathered through semi-constructed interviews with nine representatives from Finnish SMEs in the Helsinki and Lahti region.
The study results indicate that Finnish SMEs who currently have a multi-cultural workforce seem to enjoy the benefits it brings despite some small communication challenges. They also promise to employ international talents in the future. Companies that do not have a diverse workforce claim that a lack of language and necessary skills are the biggest obstacles that restrain them from hiring foreigners. However, they still hold positive outlooks towards international job-seekers. For both kinds of companies, they all perceive a diverse workforce as being beneficial in delivering new ideas and creating relations with foreign markets. They also agree that communication is the biggest challenge when people from different cultural backgrounds work together.
The author also suggests some solutions to lower the difficulties in hiring foreigners through raising SMEs’ awareness of the topic, improving integration of foreign students and redesigning Finnish language courses.
For the research, the author selects a deductive approach and qualitative research method to gain insights of the phenomenon. Secondary data is collected from books, journals, reports and other electronic sources. Primary data is gathered through semi-constructed interviews with nine representatives from Finnish SMEs in the Helsinki and Lahti region.
The study results indicate that Finnish SMEs who currently have a multi-cultural workforce seem to enjoy the benefits it brings despite some small communication challenges. They also promise to employ international talents in the future. Companies that do not have a diverse workforce claim that a lack of language and necessary skills are the biggest obstacles that restrain them from hiring foreigners. However, they still hold positive outlooks towards international job-seekers. For both kinds of companies, they all perceive a diverse workforce as being beneficial in delivering new ideas and creating relations with foreign markets. They also agree that communication is the biggest challenge when people from different cultural backgrounds work together.
The author also suggests some solutions to lower the difficulties in hiring foreigners through raising SMEs’ awareness of the topic, improving integration of foreign students and redesigning Finnish language courses.