CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT

This research delves into cultural diversity and organizational performance using Seven-Up Bottling Company in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria as the case study. The study population consists of 204 staff members at this company. However, for the purpose of this research, a sample size of 135 respondents, comprising both employees and management, was selected using the simple random sampling technique. The research instrument utilized was a questionnaire designed with six sections. Section A gathered demographic data from the participants, while Section B, C, D, E and F featured 35 questions created specifically for this study. Data analysis was conducted with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). The questionnaire addressed four independent variables: gender diversity, employee religion, employee value systems and employee language, while the dependent variable was organizational performance. The research findings indicate that organizations promoting gender diversity, accommodating employee religious beliefs, and aligning their values with employee cultural values tend to perform better, underlining the significance of diversity and inclusion. Effective communication with fellow employees and clients is generally satisfactory, but language barriers can lead to conflicts. Implementing official language policies and recognizing the positive impact of ethnic languages can further enhance organizational performance by addressing communication challenges.