Ans: - The top 5 challenges managers of cultural and socially diverse teams are facing

were explained in a research conducted through a survey on what managers of cultural

and socially diverse teams find most challenging. Below are top 5 challenges research
identified:
Most of the
managers who participated in the survey have been managers for several years before
they had to manage a culturally diverse team. They have been used to manage a group
of people who shared the same norms, values and basic assumptions in life. Our
behavior is always an expression of our values, so when you are managing people from
a different culture you have to their norms and values in order to understand their
behavior. Developing that understanding is the most challenging task managers of
cultural diverse teams are facing.
We always compare other peoples behavior
with our own norms and values. If the behavior makes sense we accept it but if it
doesnt, we reject it. Sometimes that rejection leads to frustration and hostility. As a
manager you should of course avoid showing frustration or hostility towards your
employees behavior. It is however a challenging task according to survey.
What we regard as motivation is closely
related to culture and it is often the case that what serves as a motivation factor in one
culture is de-motivating people from another culture. Very often companies have a
single-threaded motivation and reward systems based on the norms and values from
where the company was originated. When you expand to other cultures and you bring
along your motivation system you might experience a decline in efficiency and
employee satisfaction because other people might feel de-motivated by factor that you
find extremely motivating.
A great deal of the respondents felt that it
was difficult to reach the desired level of efficiency in their multicultural team because
too much time is spent on sorting out misunderstandings, setting expectations and
make
everyone
on
the
team
pursue
the
same
goals.
The reason why this issue ends up on this list is because we initially only see one
definition of efficiency.
And finally the
cross-cultural managers feel that they need the right tools to manage and lead a
culturally diverse team. Managing diversity is an important add-on to the management
skills they already have.

Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

Working women find themselves in another dilemma: they always feel

that home is their original domain, which they have to sustain in all circumstances.
Women generally prefer to stay at home, and normally, do not opt for the job out of
choice, but out of necessity. They always have a feeling of guilt for sparing less time for
family and maternal responsibilities. This dual responsibility proves the double burden
on her, and resultantly, she has to fight simultaneously on two fronts.
Media should play its role to educate people, and uphold the respect of women in
its programs and publications. A recently conducted cross-sectional survey by Family
Practice Centre, Islamabad suggests that women, if given an alternate solution to their
economic needs, would quit their jobs.
When both men and women want to pursue their careers simultaneously, the
family institution will have to suffer. An ideal family will and should always plan the
careers with mutual consultation, and keeping in view the specific family needs and
environment.
The whole debate of women empowerment focuses on the rights and privileges
for them which implies as if there is a conflict between the genders, while the problem in
our society is not gender specific discrimination. For instance, the current situation is
that women are getting greater number of opportunities for higher education in our
country and are ahead of men in this regard. Hence, this debate should be
comprehensive. There are legal, social, cultural and economic dimensions associated
with the issue and none of them is independent. While talking about the empowerment
of women, we should keep in mind the values and norms of the society; as it directly
hits the family-scheme of society, which is a precious asset for us.
In todays modern era, even after working in the corporate world and
after taking up challenging roles of executives/directors/marketing professional/IT
professionals, etc.; the age old image of a woman of being a home-maker is not much
changed. Even if she works, comes home tired/has to leave early for office; she is
expected to cook food, take care of kids and all other household duties and the male
counterparts may volunteer but they hold no responsibilities.
One of the most tough to handle challenges is to manage
and cope with the ego of your male counterpart as wife/partner. Males do support
women to go out and work, but somewhere they find it hard to accept the progress and
achievement of women whether she is his colleague or life partner.

Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

- Mostly women are not seen

as independent earners, who command respect and dignity. Instead is seen as a small
back-wheel of a heavy vehicle and thus, her role and contribution is mostly over looked.
In most of the families, especially middle class, upper middle class and lower middle
class; its seen that the income of the woman either goes in the hands of her father or
husband, rather than in her hands.

One of the most unfortunate challenges

for women that they are subject to undergo at work despite all their qualifications, skills,
talent, hard work and performance; is to be overlooked and low rated in comparison to
their male colleagues. This is one reason, why many women have to settle down at less
challenging jobs than their capabilities/talent, or get stuck at an irrelevant job/field or get
stuck at one point of career with no opportunities for further growth, etc.

1.
Most Americans believe women possess the same key leadership characteristics
as men, with many indicating that women are stronger than men in terms of being
compassionate and organized leaders,
2.
In terms of intelligence and capacity for innovation, most people believe men and
women are equal
3.
When asked why there are still fewer women than men in top roles in
government and business organizations despite advances women have made in the
workplace, survey respondents did not point to lack of toughness or other management
skills, nor did they cite family responsibilities. According to the survey, about four-in-10
Americans say the most significant barrier preventing women from rising to top positions
is a double standard that says women have to do more to prove themselves as capable
and qualified than their male counterpoints.
4.
According survey even being more capabilities man will dominate in future in
term hold in top level management.
5.
Woman participation in politics will improve in near future due to their honesty
and being ethical

Effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills are valuable in the workplace.
Some companies spend a lot of money to train their employees on how to effectively
communicate. Good communication skills go beyond conversations, but employees
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Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

must know how to communicate well in written reports and emails. Understanding the
benefits of effective communication helps companies place a focus on developing a
workforce that is able to communicate within the firm and with customers, vendors and
international business partners.
Helps with Diversity: Effective workplace communication is important in companies with workplace diversity.
Good communication skills help to reduce the barriers erected because of language and
cultural differences. Companies that provide communication training to domestic and
international employees reap the benefits of effective workplace communication.
Companies can avoid cultural confusion and miscommunication by training international
employers early in their careers and on a regular basis. Effective communication causes
productivity to increase, errors to decrease and operations to run smoother.
Global Business: With global business transactions continually increasing, the need for effective
communication to meet global demands is also increasing. Managers and employees
must know how to effectively communicate with the company's international
counterparts. The difference in cultures requires managers to understand terms
commonly used in America that another culture finds offensive. Companies that prepare
workers to excel with verbal and nonverbal communications skills find it easier to enter
into global marketplaces than companies that do not prepare its employees. Effective
communication is important for businesses looking to expand beyond its domestic
borders.
Team Building: Effective communication in the workplace helps employees and managers form highly
efficient teams. Employees are able to trust each other and management. Effective
communication reduces unnecessary competition within departments and helps
employees work together harmoniously. The result of a team that works together is high
productivity, integrity and responsibility. Employees know their roles on the team and
know they are valued. Managers are able to correct employees' mistakes without
creating a hostile work environment. A manager who openly communicates with his
subordinates can foster positive relationships that benefit the company as a whole.
Employee Morale: An improvement in employee morale can result from effective communication. Although
pay is a concern for many workers, it is not their only concern. Employees appreciate
good communication coming from management. It produces a healthy work
environment. When employees are satisfied with their jobs, they are able to efficiently
perform their duties with a positive attitude. Failing to communicate effectively in a
workplace leads to frustration and confusion among employees. However, managers
can alleviate such problems by keeping the lines of communication open.

Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

Women are better listeners than men, and this is exactly the skill that is most critical for
managing employees and customers. According to Dr. Susan Sherwood, this is a result
of women being more discussion oriented and men wanting to just take action. Men
communicate through activities rather than conversations. Why this is an important skill
for everyone: Employees want their managers to hear their point of view, and customers
want everyone to empathize with their problems. Being a better communicator will lead
to a stronger relationship built on trust, which is critical to establishing loyalty.
Women are better consensus builders and dont have the need like men to direct
everyone in what to do. In this world of the connected Internet, beta managers, those
that know how to build cooperative relationships, are becoming more successful than
traditional alpha managers. Why this is an important skill for everyone: In the new
book The Fall of the Alphas, Dana Ardi shows how the traditional top down, male
dominated authoritarian leader is being replaced by a more collaborative and connected
manager. She says that the best managers are learning to lead through the influence
that comes from building collaboration rather than straight force or all out competition.
Bart and McQueen find that women, who are effective managers, acknowledge and
consider the rights of others in the pursuit of fairness that is consistently applied in a
non-arbitrary fashion. Why this is an important skill for everyone: Running a small
business is a minefield of ethical choices. When pushed to the limit, too many owners
do the wrong thing and run askew of their own ethical (and sometimes legal) standards.
A strong moral code will help business owners deal with these types of challenges,
which will certainly push them to their limit.

Women are far more patient with employees than men. They are less likely to jump to
an immediate conclusion or make a quick decision or take action too soon. A study
commissioned by my Hermes shows that women are willing to wait longer for a desired
result. Why this is an important skill for everyone: For most small businesses, overnight
success takes seven to 10 years. The winners are the ones that can be patient enough
to take actions, which result in small steps toward a specific goal.

According to Jay Forte, author of Fire Up! Your Employees and Smoke Your
Competition, women are more astute about knowing how to activate passion in their
employees. They watch the 43 muscles in your face and see how your emotions
change. Why this is an important skill for everyone: Passion builds loyalty. Motivate
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Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

your employees, and theyll in turn be passionate about your product or service and
company. As Sarah Robinson says in her book Fierce Loyalty, in a social media world
where most consumers check online reviews before buying, a fiercely loyal community
is the strongest marketing strategy for any business.

Age diversity is the ability to accept all different types of ages within a business
environment. Companies have to adjust to an aging population in various ways.

Reduced hours and flexible schedules.

Phased retirement
More training tailored towards older people
As the workforce ages it is likely that companies will look to other options such as
outsourcing make jobs more flexible.
Finding a way to balance motivation in the workplace. This is because what
motivates a younger person will not necessarily motivate an older person.
Managers will need to find a way to balance this when dealing with age diversity.
Problem of how to form a cohesive workplace by bridging the gap between the
older and younger workers.

By implementing strategies that place older people in positions best suited to their
ability without stereotyping them.
Organizations need to look for ways to make technology friendlier to older people
as this can enhance the workplace experience for an older population.
Ensure that the reward system is based on performance and not tenure
Not employing mature workers because its assumed that theyll soon retire.
Not interviewing someone because they are too old to fit in with other staff.
Making choices during layoffs, or forcing someone to retire, because of their age.
Advertising for someone to join a dynamic, young team

Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

The key component in achieving a favorably diversified workplace is establishing

teamwork and mutual respect among staff members. Acceptance of individual
differences is essential in creating a copacetic and productive work environment.
Acceptance leads to respect, and ultimately opportunity.

When prejudice, racism, discrimination and a lack of respect creep into a work
environment, conflict among employees becomes inevitable. If not distinguished, such
animosity in the workplace can turn explosive or even violent. Businesses who provide
a diversified work environment and provide sufficient diversity training often reduce or
eliminate such occurrences.

Though one's personal life should typically not affect their job performance, lifestyle
acceptance is sometimes an issue in the workplace. Unfortunately, even though many
employers now provide extended benefits to "alternative lifestyle partners," sometimes
gay and lesbian workers experience disrespect and discrimination from coworkers.
Such behavior leads to an uncomfortable working atmosphere and poor productivity.
.
Sadly, some individuals harbor unfair prejudices against people of different colors,
cultures, ethnicity or religion than their own. Such prejudice should not be tolerated in
the workplace -- much less anywhere -- and should be dealt with in a firm and prompt
manner. Firm company policies and appropriate training help build acceptance and
respect among a well-diversified employee body.

One the oldest and most common diversity issues in the workplace is the "men vs.
women" topic. Over the years, a new element in the disputes over equal pay and
opportunity is the transgender employee. Some corporations have trouble dealing with
the fact that a man in women's clothing or a woman in the stages of "becoming a man"
may perform equally as well on the job done as those in traditional gender roles.

Harassment can sometimes be an issue in a diversified work environment, but should

absolutely never be tolerated. Recognizing harassment is key in preventing and
eliminating discrimination from the workplace. Even the slightest comment made in jest
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Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

can be considered harassment if any -- even remotely vague -- any racial, sexual or
discriminatory connotation is made. For example, "I love Asian women" or "We should
have hired a man."

Even when no prejudice exits among employees, a diversified workplace can bring
about certain communication issues. Hiring immigrants who speak little or no English
can reduce productivity by creating a communication barrier among team members.
Employing some form of communication training and hiring sufficiently bilingual workers
helps encourage and improve staff interaction.
In larger diversified corporations, staffs are often made up of workers who range in age
from teenagers to senior citizens. Inevitably, generation gaps can become an issue and
the age differences can trigger "cliques" and separation of the company as a unit.
Bridging the gap between multiple generations of workers can sometimes become an
issue for employers attempting to establish teamwork.

Unfortunately, workers who are mentally or physically handicapped sometimes

encounter discriminatory behavior from insensitive coworkers. In some cases,
employers innocently overlook handicapped workers needs, such as ramps or special
needs equipment. Creating a fair and comfortable work environment for disabled
employees is important in a diversified workplace.

Diversity training and practices are not just a course or exam that employees take.
Consistency and a daily practice of company behavior policies is essential in molding a
positive and productive workplace.

Job Analysis Defined

An organization consists of jobs that have to be staffed. Job analysis is the
procedure through which we determine the duties, roles and responsibilities of these
positions and the characteristics, skill and knowledge of the people to hire for them. Job
analysis produces information used for writing job descriptions (a list of what the job
entails) and job specifications (what kind of people to hire for the job)

Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

(The main reason for the position, in what context and what is the overall end result)
The Human Resource Officer is responsible for providing support in the various human
resource functions, which include recruitment, staffing, training and development,
performance monitoring and employee counseling.

(The way that the position contributes to and impacts on the organization) The Human
Resource Officer provides advice and assistance to supervisors and staff. This may
include information on training needs and opportunities, job descriptions, performance
reviews and personnel policies of the Council. The position coordinates the staff
recruitment process .The Human Resource Officer provides advice and support to
supervisors and staff selection committees and ensures that they have accurate and
timely information in order to make effective decisions. Failure to provide adequate
advice or assistance may result in lost opportunities for staff development, poor staff
morale, financial loss to staffs for residents and a loss of credibility for the Chief and
Council.
(Major responsibilities and target accomplishments expected of the position including
the typical problems encountered in carrying out the responsibilities.)
1. Provide support to supervisors and staff to develop the skills and capabilities of staff.

Ensure that accurate job descriptions are in place

Provide advice and assistance with writing job descriptions
Provide advice and assistance when conducting staff performance evaluations
Identify training and development opportunities
Organize staff training sessions, workshops and activities
Process employee requests for outside training while complying with policies and
procedures
Provide basic counseling to staff who have performance related obstacles
Provide advice and assistance in developing human resource plans
Provide staff orientations
Access funding for training and write proposals

2. Monitor staff performance and attendance activities.

Monitor daily attendance.

Investigate and understand causes for staff absences.
Recommend solutions to resolve chronic attendance difficulties.
Provide basic counseling to staff that have performance related obstacles.
Provide advice and recommendations on disciplinary actions.
Monitor scheduled absences such as holidays or travel and coordinate actions to
ensure the staff absence has been adequately covered off to ensure continuity of
services.
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Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

Inform affected staff or residents of unexpected absences from work and

coordinate
Actions ensuring the continuity of services such as cancellation of events and
locating keys.

3. Coordinate staff recruitment and selection process in order to ensure a timely

organized and comprehensive procedure is used to hire staff.

Provide advice and assistance to supervisors on staff recruitment

Prepare notices and advertisements for vacant staff positions.
Schedule and organize interviews
Participate in applicant interviews
Conduct reference checks on possible candidates
Prepare, develop and implement procedures and policies on staff recruitment
Inform unsuccessful applicants
Conduct exit interviews

4. Provide information and assistance to staff, supervisors and Council on human

resource and work related issues.
Main Activities
Develop and implement a human resources plan and personnel management
policies and procedures
Promote workplace safety.
Provide advice and assistance to staff and management on pay and benefits
systems
Research and monitor human resource systems in other organizations within the
community.
Explain and provisions of the personnel policy.
Explain employment standards and legislation such as workers compensation,
labor standards and Fair Practice Act.
Organize the transitional provisions of employee compensation, pay and benefits
when positions are transferred or new positions are funded through contribution
agreements and other special funding arrangements.
Arrange for the repairs of computers and other office equipment and assist with
organizing staff to carry out work due periods of equipment shutdowns.
Attend Council meetings to provide information, when necessary.
5. Perform other related duties as required
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and attitudes required for satisfactory job performance)

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Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

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Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

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Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

Personalities, who are able to work with a group of people in a team tend to
communicate well with others.
Teamwork provides workers a cooperative, enjoyable and friendly work
environment. The team can also be helpful in responding to workers problems
and questions, therefore increases the work efficiency.
One of the main benefits team environments is the ability to share ideas among
the group.
Two heads are better than one: one persons knowledge and abilities are limited,
it could be hard for us to deal with difficult problems without others help. On the
other side, every individual is different and has unique qualities. Individuals with
different experiences and backgrounds increase the creativity of individual team
members and the group as a whole. When members apply different skills they
are often able to come up with a more effective solution than one person working
on the same problem.
Teamwork also plays a key role in improving relations among the employees.
In a team, sometimes you do not get the credit you have earned, but as Sandra
Swinney said: It is amazing how much people can get done if they do not worry
about who gets the credit.

Theres really not much to write about working individually. Its simple and clear on the
plus side you can be the boss, on the minus you lose out on the previously mentioned
many advantages.
You get the credit for your achievements. As you get to do everything , you are
the only one who gets credit for it. You cant end up in a situation where others
do less, but get praised.
Its easier to concentrate, focus. Youre interrupted less and dont need to shift
and shape around others. Sometimes group work is less productive because of
too much gossiping and chattering. Its more fun, but less work gets done.
Youre in charge of your goals and decide what to do and when. Your
responsibilities might be allocated by someone else, but you are the one who
decides who to deliver and carry out your tasks.
You get to make your own decisions!

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Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

Flexibility: - Rush hours can be avoided. No more queuing, pushing and shoving or
sitting for hours in traffic jams. Staff can avoid the crush and undoubtedly feel less
harassed when they get to work and arrive home. The amount of time getting to the
office and home again can be reduced. A further advantage is that this sometimes can
mean off-peak fares.

Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) has

presented new flexible work arrangements to help its workers.
The new steps involve flexible working hours for all employees
and work from home facility for the working mothers of the
company. Introduced under the umbrella of Work Ease, these
steps are made to further support a culture that boosts work-lifebalance, diversity inclusion and boost employee engagement.
Flexible working hours give workers the opportunity to choose
their working hours as per their suitability, giving greater
autonomy to start and end their workday. Work at Home would aid the working
mothers by allowing them to work from home, 2 days per Month. The policy is made
effective from 15th October 2015. Syed Mazhar Hussain, PTCL Chief Human Resource
Officer explained that this policy is in accordance with the HRs strategic agenda of
forming a tempting workplace for employees, thereby improving their engagement and
productivity levels. This initiative has been launched after the successful trial run of Flex
Time during Ramadan and the positive response received from the employees. The
decision to implement Work Ease is an imitative taken to further help the employees in
handling their personal and professional duties. PTCL anticipates that the flexible work
arrangements will help both the employees and the organization.

can be sorted without having to take time off. The kids can be
taken to school, the shopping can be done when the stores are less full or
employees can get to a concert or football match on time. Experience shows that
flexitime provides more scope for employees to attend evening courses.

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Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com

can hold down a full time job and leave work in time
to pick up children. No queues to beat at the end of the day as staff rush out of the
door to be first at the bus stop.
Their well-being is regularly a cause of worry for children. With
flexible working, more suitable times are now available for employees to visit and
care for those who have contributed so much.
Most employees like to feel that are contributing to
improving the environment. There is a reduction of C02 emission when travelling at
times where start-stop traffic can be avoided. This reduction can be further
contributed to by those who work from home even just occasionally.
Extra time is already often worked by employees on fixed wages
and salaries, sometimes without overtime pay. When hours are being recorded,
credit time above the target hours can be taken off as flexible leave.
A job can be finished instead of being carried over to the next
day. Extra hours worked on one day count towards the monthly target.
A lot has been written about the Circadian Rhythm and
how each of us has a body clock. For example, some people work better first thing,
others take a while to get going. By choosing the starting and finishing times people
can work to suit their own metabolism.
benefit through a more even spread of facility usage such as
roads, banks, post offices, shops and public transport.
Employees can arrive that bit later when
traffic has died down and stop work early during those awkward periods. This is in
the knowledge that they can build that time back again, quite soon after.

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Assignment No 2 SP/2015 /MSc EM/007

Muhammad Umar Farooq
Foki_87@yahoo.com