Question

Ray Caldwell is the human resource manager of a management consulting firm. The consultants in the company are mostly white males and are a cohesive group. Very few conflicts exist between them and decisions are made quickly and without much disagreement. A number of qualified applicants for new positions in the firm are from different cultural backgrounds. Ray wonders if he should consider hiring them. He is currently assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the firm becoming more multicultural.

Refer to Scenario 8.1. Ray wants to find a good example of an organization that is truly multicultural. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of such an organization?

Identification of organizational roles with particular cultural groups

Accurate reflection of the market in the diversity of the organization

Absence of barriers for entry and participation in any organizational activity

Low levels of internal conflict

Equal influence on organizational culture and fundamental norms by all groups

Answer 1

Multicultural organizations has people from diverse backgrounds and everyone contributes equally.

There are no barriers for entry for people on basis of the culture or country they are from. I.e. everyone is selcted on basis of pure merit and skillset.

There are no internal conflicts inspite having people from diverse backgrounds.

Everyone influences the culture equally. Ideas are heard from everyone inspite of the place they are coming from.

However, multicultural organization does not assign particular roles to a group of people only on basis on cultural influence. People are assigned roles based on experience and skill set and not cultural group.

Therefore, Option 1, Identification of organizational roles with particular cultural groups, is not a characteristic of a multicultural organization.