Internal Communication in Organizations with Diverse Workforce Target Case: Organizations Related to Response - project

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the internal communication of organizations in the context of workforce diversity. The research questions concerned the advantages and disadvantages that workforce diversity creates in workplaces, the challenges diversity brings into internal communication and the implications for the organizations. There is not much research of workforce diversity done in Finland – especially with refer to communication. Yet the workforce diversity issues are topical and of growing importance due to socio-democratic changes.

The key words for the study are workforce diversity and internal communication. The study is a qualitative, explanatory case-study. The data were collected by focused interviews in three target organizations related to Response project, which works under the Equal Community initiative.

The results of this study showed that the workforce diversity creates a tolerant atmosphere, improves creativity and flexibility and is regarded as enrichment in work society. However, it may create prejudices and attitudes, confusion and misunderstandings and different assumptions and traditions concerning working style, gender roles, time conception and communication. The challenges in communication are cultural differences, mental and physical state, information overload and especially insufficient language skills.