Challenges of managing a diverse workforce : Case study of Oy Snellman Ab
Adhikari, Madhu Malati; Rai, Anupam (2022)
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022122131334
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022122131334
Tiivistelmä
The thesis was commissioned by Saila Lehtola who is currently working as a quality and personnel manager at Snellmanin Kokkikartano Oy. The thesis was aimed to study and find out the challenges regarding the diverse workforce in organizations. The research was also conducted to explore how companies manage the workforce diversity and to mitigate its challenges. Moreover, the importance of a workforce in a company was studied. For this purpose, a case study of Oy Snellman Ab was carried out.
For the research procedure, both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. To gather, analyse, and interpret the data, semi-structured interviews, and a questionnaire survey with a series of questions were used. In the case study of Snellman, research showed that the company's overall management of workforce diversity was found to have produced a favourable work environment where all employees are treated and respected equally regardless of their diverse backgrounds, giving them the chance to make decisions at work and advance their own development. According to the case study, diversity is seen as an asset by Snellman. Research found that the main challenges of managing workforce diversity at Oy Snellman Ab was language and communication challenges, challenges based on the employee’s origins and backgrounds while solving conflict issues, issues in acknowledging holidays for all employees and managing employees having disability and body ailments.
The study suggested that managers need to be well-versed in handling diversity in the workplace in order to build a varied team that works well together. In order to prevent discrimination against a specific group of employees, managers should be able to recognize the differences and similarities among all employees. Furthermore, this thesis recommended managers to develop inclusive policies and practices for everyone, respect, and value diversity, promote communication, offer workforce diversity trainings, and regularly seek employee feedback on diversity management at the company to promote workforce diversity.
For the research procedure, both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. To gather, analyse, and interpret the data, semi-structured interviews, and a questionnaire survey with a series of questions were used. In the case study of Snellman, research showed that the company's overall management of workforce diversity was found to have produced a favourable work environment where all employees are treated and respected equally regardless of their diverse backgrounds, giving them the chance to make decisions at work and advance their own development. According to the case study, diversity is seen as an asset by Snellman. Research found that the main challenges of managing workforce diversity at Oy Snellman Ab was language and communication challenges, challenges based on the employee’s origins and backgrounds while solving conflict issues, issues in acknowledging holidays for all employees and managing employees having disability and body ailments.
The study suggested that managers need to be well-versed in handling diversity in the workplace in order to build a varied team that works well together. In order to prevent discrimination against a specific group of employees, managers should be able to recognize the differences and similarities among all employees. Furthermore, this thesis recommended managers to develop inclusive policies and practices for everyone, respect, and value diversity, promote communication, offer workforce diversity trainings, and regularly seek employee feedback on diversity management at the company to promote workforce diversity.