The Effects of Workforce Diversity on the Organizational Performance of Humanitarian Organizations

Abstract

This thesis investigates the impact of workforce diversity on the performance of humanitarian organizations in Turkey. The study aims to identify the effects of diversity on cooperation and beneficiaries' satisfaction, as well as to explore the experiences and perspectives of individuals within these organizations regarding diversity in language, cultural norms, and gender. In addition, the study seeks to identify both the potential challenges and benefits associated with diversity in these contexts. The study was conducted through interviews with participants of different cultural backgrounds and nationalities who work in humanitarian organizations operating in Turkey. The results of the study indicate that diversity in language, cultural norms, and gender has positive and important effects on the flow of information and the completion of work within these organizations. Participants reported that language barriers were the biggest obstacle to communication, followed by cultural norms and gender. However, these obstacles were found to be temporary and new employees tended to adjust to the language and cultural norms of the organization over time. Most participants did not have a problem working in a mixed team and found diversity to be important for their work. However, conflicts and the role of the organization were identified as areas where the impact of diversity was negative. More than half of the participants reported experiencing bullying or hearing inappropriate speech due to differences in language, cultural norms, or gender, and some participants felt that there was discrimination by managers on the basis of diversity. The study concludes that linguistic, cultural, and gender diversity are important for improving the performance of humanitarian organizations. However, to gain the benefits of diversity and overcome its drawbacks, it must be well-managed and provide an environment that promotes and respects diversity. The study recommends that humanitarian organizations should intensify efforts to combat discrimination and bullying due to diversity and adopt stricter policies to promote awareness of diversity. In summary, the study provides insights into the impact of workforce diversity on the performance of humanitarian organizations in Turkey. The findings have important implications for humanitarian organizations seeking to improve their performance through better management of diversity.