Management challenges in cultural diversity

Management Challenges Cultural Diversity

Throughout time, management has always been a top priority when it comes to business. There is however, questions that always seem to come to mind. What are the differences in management levels as well as how do they compare? What challenges are there in management, and how do they affect things like information, interpersonal and decision-making roles?

Dhar & Mishra, (2001) conducted a study on management styles, characteristics, as well the level of effectiveness. In this study they reported that the key challenge is not how to control people to run the organization, rather it is to attract, develop and retain the best talent and to link, defuse and leverage their knowledge, skills, and initiatives to create innovation and new opportunities.

Leadership has become a critical component to the organization. Dhar and Misha (2001) reported that studies they reviewed on chief executives showed that the executives could often do a change in strategy and still be rather effective, however change on the part of the chief executive only accounted for 45% of the organizations performance as a whole.

Dhar & Mishra (2001) stated that there are many different definitions of leadership. Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence a group towards organizational goals. The most commonly used measure of leader effectiveness is the extent to which the leader's organizational unit performs its task successfully and attains it goals. The attitude of the followers toward the leader is another significant indicator of leader effectiveness.

Research on performance-oriented and relationship-oriented behavior gave evidence that both the dimensions of behavior are necessary for leadership effectiveness (Dhar & Mishra, 2001, p.256). One thing that has proven consistent throughout the research of Dhar & Mishra is that regardless of the level of management there are certain characteristics that are necessary throughout in order for that person to be an effective leader. The characteristics that are consistent regardless of managerial level are Ability to facilitate, ability to influence, ability to be accountable, ability to build teams, ability to negotiate, ability to reward, ability to manage time, interpersonal orientation, and analytical skills. In contrast, there was a list of skills stated to be necessary depending on ones organization (Dhar & Mishra).