Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

What is the Australian Model for Managing Cultural Diversity?

Syed, Jawad, Kramar, Robin (2010) What is the Australian Model for Managing Cultural Diversity? Personnel Review, 39 (1-2). pp. 96-115. ISSN 0048-3486. (doi:10.1108/00483481011007887) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:24820)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00483481011007887

Abstract

Purpose - This paper seeks to assess the Australian approach to managing a culturally diverse workforce by examining the outcomes of this approach.

Design/methodology/approach - The paper applies Syed and Ozbilgin's relational, multilevel framework for managing diversity to study policies at three interrelated levels. At the macro-national level, the paper examines legal and public policy initiatives for managing cultural diversity. At the meso-organisational level, the paper discusses a variety of workplace diversity management approaches. This discussion encompasses the legal requirements for organisations; to remove discrimination, and to create an equal employment opportunity workplace. A voluntary management approach known as "diversity management" is also outlined. At the micro-individual level, the paper examines unique employment-related issues faced by ethnic minority workers because of their ethnic, linguistic and religious identifies. The multilevel perspectives are synthesised in a model labelled "the Australian model for managing cultural diversity".

Findings - The legal framework in Australia places only limited obligations on organisations to manage cultural diversity. As a consequence, while a range of organisational responses have proliferated, an integrated approach towards managing culturally diverse workers is absent. The paper argues that, unless cultural diversity is tackled at multiple levels and in a more integrated way, any attempt to either understand or manage such diversity may prove unrealistic.

Originality/value - The paper offers helpful advice to decision makers at the macro-national and meso-organisational policy levels vis-a-vis developing a realistic understanding of managing diversity through a multilevel framework.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1108/00483481011007887
Uncontrolled keywords: Australia, Equal opportunities, Migrant workers
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Kent Business School (do not use)
Depositing User: Jennifer Knapp
Date Deposited: 03 Jun 2010 14:19 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:03 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/24820 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Syed, Jawad.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.