Managing Workforce Diversity: A Challenge for New Zealand Business in the 1990s

Abstract

One of the biggest challenges facing New Zealand firms in the 1990s involves preparing their managers to deal with the problems and opportunities created by an increasingly diverse labour force. The traditional equal employment opportunity and legal position among companies has been to treat all employees the same and assume they are. However, an approach that recognizes diversity and acknowledges That some differences in management style or problem-solving techniques may be partly a function of gender, race, or ethnicity will ultimately be the most successful. This article discusses some of the barriers that must be overcome if managers are to work effectively withpeople different from themselves The advantages that companies stand to gain if they do a good job of managing diversity are also detailed.