In a globalised workforce, why cultural integration is as crucial as digital integration
Cultural integration must be dealt with the same seriousness as technological or digital integration
The last decade saw the evolution in
cross-border trade. As communications technology breaks down barriers, MNCs
will continue to expand their footprint. This has facilitated the movement of
global talent, with most MNCs encouraging cultural diversity. For HR
professionals, attracting global resources would mean staying abreast with the
evolving talent needs and devising strategies to not just attract, but also
retain a diverse talent pool.
As business leaders, the question we need to
ask ourselves is are we equipped to handle a multi-cultural workforce?
Capability building is a part of the HR tapestry in any organisation. We need
to encourage employees to be curious about cultural nuances and work towards
establishing a ‘cultural quotient’. The cross-cultural flow of talent first
started with the proliferation of the IT industry as talent moved across the
country. That has now extended beyond national borders, making the whole
process of inculturation even more critical.
For our business to thrive, we need people.
To ensure that our workforce can deliver to its optimum potential, we need to
invest in an environment that enables them to flourish. This can’t happen
through makeshift solutions.
Often, people confuse orientation sessions
with actual cultural induction. Cultural integration must be dealt with the
same seriousness as technological or digital integration. At times, it is the
smallest of efforts that can make people feel welcome. Living on foreign shores
makes people crave for home and even a simple initiative like subscribing to a
newspaper or magazine from various nationalities reassures people that they are
being taken care of. Team lunches with global cuisines can serve as a trigger
to cultural conversations. It is also a good idea to work towards an ecosystem
that is culture agnostic. In fact, we make a conscious effort to invest in
creating opportunities for employees to travel and expose them to international
offices.
The process requires engagement of various
stakeholders. HR teams will have to educate managers on how to leverage the
presence of global colleagues while ensuring that cultural nuances in terms of
interpersonal relations are not misinterpreted. Fostering a collaborative
culture could be a great step in this direction where the company’s values and
commitment to diversity is communicated across geographies.
The advantages of a multicultural atmosphere
are plenty. Diversity of any kind, be it skills and experiences, linguistic,
grassroots exposure, helps organisations service their consumers and clients
better. Since people come from different backgrounds, they bring with them a
variety of perspectives and this helps in solving problems creatively. A
heterogeneous mix of people can also add value while making strategic decisions
and eventually in improved execution, which, in turn, has a positive impact on
productivity as well as growth.
To enable successful management of diversity,
organisations must go beyond training the HR team and ensure that the messaging
trickles down to every individual. It is important to get a sense of how
employees deal with it. Simple steps like exposing employees to short-term
assignments across geographical locations, making them work on global projects
or encouraging them to learn the basics of a new language can all add up to the
goal of creating a workforce that has truly imbibed the multicultural spirit.
There is no denying that a multicultural
workforce is here to stay. Besides bringing together a diverse pool of talent,
it gives organisations competitive edge. An inclusive work culture not only
helps in retaining talent, but also attracts new talent. Organisations that
have employees from different cultural backgrounds, more often than not, offer
a broader range of services. All of this leads to a healthy working
environment.
Regards
Pralhad
Jadhav
Senior
Manager @ Library
Khaitan
& Co
Upcoming
Events | BOSLA-NIFT ANNUAL
LECTURE SERIES-2016 on Saturday,
20th August 2016 at 10.00 hrs in National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.
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