The impact of employee diversity on performance

Abstract

Using a diverse workforce to improve performance has always been a challenge to many Human Resource Managers. Indeed, so many positive changes in organization’s performance have been experienced associated with diversity in the context of diversity in race, religion, education levels as well as age. These positive changes pose a question to managers to whether base their interest on diversity to as to improve their performance as well as that of the organization or consider also other factors in the external environment. The purpose of this study is to analytically explore the impact of diversity on performance of Gracious Palace Hotel (GPH), Lira District of Northern Uganda. The study aimed specifically at establishing the elements of diversity that exist at GPH, find out the impacts of each element and establish their specific influence on performance on an individual’s performance and organizational performance as a whole. The study was a qualitative research with a single case study on individual perceptions and interpretations on the question of diversity leading to improved performance. Questionnaire guides were sent and physical observations were methods of collecting for the study. From the study conducted at GPH, 64.3% (27) of respondents were males while 35.7% (15) were female, implying that in GPH, more males employed as compared to female employees. From the assessment made in the organization as per the gender compsition of the workforce, the reasons for this imbalance was that women oftenly left work earlier to attend to their domestic responsibilites which reduced on the number of hours worked by them The study found that core elements of diversity as a means of improving performance include racial diversity, education levels, age diversity and religious diversity. The study found out that competition as a means of improving performance fuelled better performance methods by many organizations. The study also found that socio political factors especially on government rules in place improved performance. The study found that there were other factors that need to be considered when determining what influences performance. These were socio political factors like the government laws in place and competition form other firms in the same industry. The study found that there were other factors that need to be considered when determining what influences performance. These were socio political factors like the government laws in place and competition form other firms in the same industry. The study finally recommended management establish strategies for handling the impact of each diversity element in a diverse workforce and that management act as examples to their subordinates if performance of GPH is to be upheld at GPH. The study generally concludes that in pursuit of better performance, managers should mind the combination of the workforce in terms of race, education, age and religion so as to attain their goals and objectives.