D.B.A.  Baker College (Michigan), 2022.
Subjects:  Business administration

Value of diversity in organizations
142 pages. UMI #: 28969385
Citation, Abstract & Full text in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database

This qualitative single case study surveyed the retail organization XYZ's employees in both field-based and corporate-based positions to explore perceptions of cultural diversity's impact on morale, retention, and productivity. The theoretical framework supporting the problem was Turner's social categorization theory. Using a purposive sampling technique, eight managers and eight subordinate workers at a retail organization in San Francisco, California made up the sample and were interviewed. Once interviews were concluded, all data was analyzed using thematic analysis to determine emergent themes for each research question. The research questions asked the participants to describe (a) the current cultural diversity in their organization, (b) how cultural diversity impacts morale and (c) how cultural diversity impacts productivity. The results showed that employees valued diversity and considered it an essential factor in increasing morale, productivity, and retention, specifically of those within culturally diverse groups. Results also included data about how diversity within leadership was considered a contributing factor to overall employee satisfaction and how cultural diversity contributed to organizational innovation. Findings from this research may help organizational leaders focus on their diversity-related efforts and commonalities of their workforce to remain competitive while mitigating losses of talent. The global economy has changed, and an organization's ability to navigate it successfully by using cultural diversity to its advantage will be pivotal to continued success.

• Bernice Folz, Ph.D., Chair
• John Vinton, Ph.D.
• Peggy Houghton, Ph.D.