Multicultural Human Resource Management

Abstract

As America becomes more ethnically diverse and culturally pluralistic so do the employees and consumer's of the hospitality industry. To be prepared to meet the needs of these people management must have an understanding of the cultural basis for value systems, social and interpersonal interactions, the work ethic, motivation, and communication systems. An awareness in the hospitality industry of both personnel and consumer relations within a multicultural, multiracial and multiethnic society will provide individuals with a cross cultural perspective on management styles and skills.

A Strategy for Diversity Training

“…Tung (1993) stated that cross-cultural interactions may lessen differences and help facilitate adaptation between groups. Welch, Tanke, and Glover (1988) reported that developing cultural awareness within an organization may help employees become more familiar with different values, interpersonal interactions, and communication systems, which are critical for an effective multicultural environment. By increasing understanding and sensitivity toward non-English speakers, organizations will gain a competitive edge through a stable, productive, and safe workforce.…”

An Integrated Approach to Internationalizing the Hospitality and Tourism Curriculum in the USA

“…Within the H & T literature, the multicultural nature of its workforce has been recognized. There is a call to address cultural sensitivity issues (Welch, Tanke & Glover, 1988;Mill, 1992;Gammio & Sneed, 1992). The issues of international awareness and cultural sensitivity are linked, though there have been few attempts to see the relationship.…”

“…In the USA the percentage of non-white employees continues to climb (Welch, Tanke & Glover, 1988). Within the H & T literature, the multicultural nature of its workforce has been recognized.…”

An investigation of multicultural training practices in the restaurant industry: the training cycle approach

“…What is not understood is what effects, if any, these changes will have on an organization and how it can respond in a proactive way to them. Recognizing the significance of managing diversity in the hospitality organization, Welch et al (1988) suggest that developing cultural awareness in a company helps employees become familiar with different values, interpersonal interactions, and communication systems which must be understood for an effective multicultural working environment. Christensen (1993) emphasizes that organizations failing to acknowledge the full range of variety inherent in their employees and customer populations will have difficulty surviving.…”