The Multicultural Workforce: Inside Worldwide Telecommunications Inc.

The Multicultural Workforce: Inside Worldwide Telecommunications Inc.

Introduction

Telecommunication is a vital element within a growing company. But it is the diversity of a multicultural workforce that is the actual drive of the business.

Telecommunication is the fastest way businesses are conducted all over the world. Employees would be lost without the aide of their computers, fax machines, and cellular phones. These machines not only make the work load process smoother and faster, but it also gets results quicker. In order for a corporation to strive and have a long existence, there are several key points that need to be taken into consideration. These important elements will be discussed later in this paper. Most importantly, the businesses of today need to be knowledgeable of their workforce, and must ensure their employees to be content and satisfied as well.

Major Assets

Telecommunication in today's business world is constantly growing and continues to be considered as a major asset to the business world. It is crucial for a company to have a better understanding of all of the available and up-to-date technology. The businesses should also be capable of conducting an effective communication relationship among the company. These important elements are a multicultural workforce within a large company, diverse cultures and how they can work together, communication barriers among the employees, and financial benefits of having a diverse and multicultural workforce. For the success and growth of any company currently, these companies need to be familiar with the daily changes of modern technology and be able to adapt with these changes.

In order for a corporation to strive and have a long existence, there are several key points that need to be taken into consideration. These important key elements are a multicultural workforce within a large company, diverse cultures and how they can work together, communication barriers among the employees, and financial benefits of having a diverse and multicultural workforce. For the success and growth of any company in this day and age, these companies need to be familiar with the daily changes of modern technology and be able to adapt with these changes. Most importantly, these businesses need to know their workforce and ensure that their employees are satisfied and content.

Multicultural Workforce

What is a multicultural workforce? A multicultural workforce is a group of people who are different in genders, race, and ages. "It is certain that America is a far browner place as Asian-Americans, and Native Americans are becoming an increasingly larger part of the workforce and population" (Nov 2001). Diversity within any corporation can be a great advantage. It can also be credited for the status of some highly successful corporations that have been in existence for so many years. It is stated that the life of a workforce in America is expected to become increasingly diverse over the next decade and into the next century (1992). There are benefits to having a well diverse workforce. When organizations attract, retain and promote maximum utilization of people from diverse cultural backgrounds, they gain competitive advantage and sustain the highest quality of human resources. The diverse organization, for example, has a better understanding of foreign employees (Adler, 1991). During this time and age the creativity and manpower are the key essential to production. Including a diverse workforce will bring to the table more creativity, work ethnic, and an increase of personal. Negative attitudes and behaviors can be barriers to organizational diversity because they can harm working relationships and damage morale and work productivity (Esty, et al., 1995).

Managing a Multicultural Workforce

Managing a multicultural workforce needs to begin with the employer and management. Recognizing the difference in cultures and ethics can help establish a foundation for any issues that may arise. Why are there cultural barriers? One of the reasons a multicultural work environment has been difficult to sustain is that most individuals are unaware of the differing sets of cultural, ethnic, and communication assumptions, attributions, and especially behaviors that are normative in various cultures. Humans are individuals with their own personalities, ideas, and pattern of communication.

It is very important for employees to understand and know their employees and their become familiarity with each individuals background and cultures. Per Attorney at Law William Simmons, "keeping an open mind and treating people fairly based upon what they do or don't do are the keys to bridging whatever cultural gaps exist. (2001)" Becoming more aware of the norms for interaction in one's own culture is a most difficult task, because such norms are internalized very early and become an unconscious component of our expectations of and behavior with others. It is a very crucial task, because only through making these norms conscious can we begin to adapt our behavior to the expectations of the groups or co-workers we are attempting to collaborate with, or at least lessen our tendency to misattribute meanings and motivations to others based on our own cultural norms. Depending on a culture's pattern of communication, individuals may not let you know when their expectations or norms have been violated or when they are offended, or at least they may not let you know in a way easy for you to perceive or understand, given the norms of your culture.

Becoming aware of the norms for interaction in one's own culture is a difficult task, because such norms are internalized very early and become an unconscious part of our expectations and behavior with others. It is a very important task, because only through making these norms conscious can we begin to adapt our behavior to the expectations of the groups or co-workers we are attempting to communicate with, or at least lessen our tendency to misinterpret meanings and motivations to others based on our own cultural norms.

Effective Communication

Communication is crucial within any business or corporation. Effective communication is imperative. Properly communicating within a diverse company allows the business to be successful and the employees on the same page. When a company has employees that have different backgrounds such as their culture and ethnic then advanced communication skills are more essential. In order for communication barriers to be broken and effective communication