1.
Challenges And Solutions In The South Pacific
MBA-423 HRM Group 5 November 2013

2.
Amrish
Narayan
S11005566
Chaminda
Wanninayake
S11105205
Freda
Wickham
S11082416
Stuart
Gow
s11100919

3.
Scope
 Diversity in the Workplace
 Benefits of Diversity
 Challenges in PICs
 Management of Diversity
 Recommendations
 Solutions

4.
What IS it?

5.
Definition
Diversity is defined as
a difference or
unlikeness

6.
Diverse workplace
 Includes people with different
 Ethnicities
 Races
 Age groups
 Sexes & Gender
 Religions
 Cultural beliefs
 Values

7.
Perceptions
“People’s
perceptions of
themselves and
others affect all
their
interactions”
(Stone, 2013)

8.
Diversity will increase soon...
Successful
organisations
= proactive
Address
Diversity
NOW!

9.
Better Suited to Global
Diverse Workforces
better understand:
 Legal
 Political
 Social
 Economic
 Cultural environments
More importantly:
They gain
competitive
advantage from
this
understanding!

10.
Can You Risk it?
“If you embrace diversity, you
risk workplace conflict, but if
you avoid diversity, you risk
loss of competitiveness”

11.
More Effective Execution
 Lead and inspire all Human
Capital
 Leads to most efficient
level and profitability.
 Fully execute Organizations
Strategy
 Produces increased
productivity
 Leading to higher profit

12.
Variety Of Viewpoints
 Larger pool of
experiences and ideas
 Meet ‘big picture’
business strategy
needs
 Diversity of
perspective
 Drives creativity
 Opens minds to new
possibilities & ideas

13.
Global Market
 More & better
targeted services
 When HC has:
 large collection of
skills and
experiences
 cultural and religious
understanding
 languages

14.
Challenges in the South Pacific

15.
Communication
 Critical to cross barriers
to gain benefits:
 Cultural barriers
 Perceptual barriers
 Language barriers
 Lack of communication:
 Confusion
 Lack of teamwork
 Low morale

16.
Case Study:
EU in Solomon Islands
Freda Wickham
 12 year in EU office
 Different languages:
 Spanish, Italian, Irish,
English, Belgian,
French, German, Pidgin
 Challenge both spoken
and written

17.
Resistance To Change
 4 types of
Organisation:
 Negative
 Minimalist
 Compliant
 Comprehensive
& proactive

18.
Implementation Into Workplace Policies
 Getting into Policies a
challenge
 Maximise the effects of
diversity in the
workplace
 After a assessment
 After research
 MOVE SLOWLY!
 Build custom strategy

19.
FNU Values On Diversity
“Diversity And
Inclusiveness: The
University Practices
Diversity And
Inclusiveness In Its
Campus Learning And
Living And Fosters A
Community And
Collegiate Spirit Among
Staff And Students.”
 Policies:
 Equal Employment Policy
 Recruitment Policy
 Discrimination And
Harassment Policy
 Workplace Bullying Policy
 Drugs, Alcohol And Kava
Policy
 Whistleblower Protection
Policy

20.
Fiji
Solomon Islands
LEGAL ASPECTS OF WORKPLACE DIVERSITY

21.
Fiji Legislation
Employment Relations Promulgation 2007 (ERP)
 Part 9 — Equal
Employment
Opportunities
 Move to Good Faith
 Employers to remove all
instances and mentions
 Great opportunity now!
“ethnic origin, colour, place
of origin, gender, sexual
orientation, birth, primary
language, economic status,
age, disability, HIV/AIDS
status, social class, marital
status (including living in
a relationship in the
nature of a marriage),
employment status, family
status, opinion, religion or
belief.”

22.
Fiji National University EEO Policy
“The ultimate outcome of our policy
(EEO) shall be changes in attitudes to
an organisational culture which values
a diverse workforce. This will include an
appreciation and understanding of
different blends of values, cultures,
ethnicity and genders.”

23.
Solomon Islands Legislation
Currently no laws for EEO
 committed to
promoting gender
equality
 Constitution officially
guarantees women
equal rights
 Laws remain...
 Still male-dominated
culture

24.
Solomon Islands Gender Distribution (PS)
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
Management Technicians Skilled Services
Female Male

25.
Diversity management
“A process of management,
particularly HRM, underpinned by a
set of values which recognise
differences between people as
strengths for management.”

26.
A Plan is Needed…
 Training not only
answer
 Policies not only answer
 Specific strategy
 Create an :
Organisational
Culture of Diversity

27.
Managing Diversity Plan

28.
1. Initial Assessment
 supports people
 willingness to consider
diversity
 HRM Policies central
Simple employee
satisfaction survey
•Initial assessment of diversity in the workplace

29.
2. Development of a Plan
 Comprehensive
information
 Start with survey results
 Should be SMART:
 Specific
 Measurable
 Achievable
 Realistic
 Time limited

30.
3. Implementing the Plan
 Personal commitment of
all executive &
managerial teams
 Incorporate diversity
policies into every
department
 Many resources

31.
4. HRM Leads & Tracks the Change
HRM lead agency
Lead the change
Once established:
tracked
measured

32.
5. Advocate to Board & to Employees
 Policy not in isolation
 Needs top-level
support
 Needs Operational
Management
support
 Needs full workforce
support

33.
Diversity
 Major contributor to
Human Capital
 Competitive
Advantage
 Global reach
 Innovation &
Creativity

34.
Recommendations
 Immediately include
Diversity
 Strategic HRM
 Organisations Strategy
 Leads to:
 better productivity
 Achieving organisations
strategic goals

35.
Recommendations
5 Steps
1. Initial assessment of
diversity in the
workplace
2. Develop a Specific
Diversity in the
Workplace Plan
3. Implement the Plan
4. Lead the change as HRM
5. Advocate Diversity to
Board & Employees

36.
References
 Course/ Student Study Guide, MBA 423 HRM, Prof.
Dr. K C. Patrick Low , (PhD (UniSA) & Chartered
Marketer)
 Managing Human Resources; 4th edition; Raymond
J. Stone (2013); John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd;
Sydney
 Fiji National University OHS Policy, 2013
 FNU OH&S Modules I and II, LINK
 YouTube videos

37.
Amrish
Narayan
S11005566
Chaminda
Wanninayake
S11105205
Freda
Wickham
S11082416
Stuart
Gow
s11100919

38.
Challenges And Solutions In The South Pacific
MBA-423 HRM Group 5 November 2013