Managing diversity in a changing environment

A cross cultural comparison with Germany

Agenda

• Diversity comparison• A comparative study• Differences

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Diversity comparison

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ethnicity

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languages

• German

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Indian Languages %Hindi 41%Bengali 8.1%Telugu 7.2%Marathi 7%Tamil 5.9%Urdu 5%Gujarati 4.5%Kannada 3.7%Malayalam 3.2%Oriya 3.2%Punjabi 2.8%Assamese 1.3%Maithili 1.2%other 5.9%

religions

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age

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Labor force

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GDP/per capita

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urbanization

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Diversity management in German & Indian manufacturing companies

• Haridass Paelmke • Ronel Erwee• Australian Graduate School of Business

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companies

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respondents

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completes

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questionnaire

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Diversity problems?

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discrimination

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Attitudes towards diversity

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Training & diversity

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Dress codes

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Managing diversity

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Diversity management in German & Indian manufacturing companies

conclusions• Similarities– Diversity research embryonic– Diversity not problematic– Lack of social interactions among diverse groups– Integrate diversity management to go global

• Differences– Diversity climate– Diversity management competencies12/6/2011 National HRD Network

HR differences

• Practices• Labor relations• Leadership

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practices

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Germany IndiaLong-termism High X X

LowStructural Empowerment-High

Low X XEfficiency emphasis High

Low X XEmployee welfare emphasis-High X

Low XAccelerated resource development-High X

Low X

Labor relations

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Germany India

Relationship Cooperative Regulated

Watchwords Industrial democracy Avoid conflict

Unions Powerful Weakened

Membership Voluntary Declining

Pay scale 90%

Conflicts Work council

leadership

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Germany India

Work-centered Similar to Anglos

Authoritarian Initiative

Participation

Internal control

Dissimilar to Anglos

Info sharing

Objectives

Summary

• Diversitize • Learn• Explore• Push

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Further diversity research

• Definition• Problems• Tools• Recruiting• Training• Management• Benefits

• michael.muth@gitam.edu

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