09. Is cultural diversity beneficial to develop a successful organisation?

General Objectives

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• Develop students’ understanding of cultural diversity as a concept present in modern societies.
• Encourage critical thinking about the role of cultural diversity in organisations, businesses, and workplaces.
• Build communication, collaboration, and public speaking skills through structured debate.
• Strengthen students’ ability to consider multiple perspectives on social and workplace issues.
• Have students research to form an argument.
• Have students practice quick critical thinking to respond to counterarguments.

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Teaching Methods

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• Open discussion
• Research 
• Debate

1. Introduction to all age groups:   10 minutes

Opening question to the class:  What does cultural diversity mean?

Oxford Dictionary definition of cultural diversity: “the existence of a variety of cultural expressions, practices and identities that exist within a society or community.”

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Note for teacher: 

• this is a ‘warm up’ exercise.
• We are talking here only about the facts, without any personal or judgmental/emotional opinions given.
• No writing down required.
• Allow open discussion on the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within society. Direct attention to the fact that we live in a society in which all differences are represented.
• Explain how increasingly countries around the world are becoming more culturally diverse, as minority populations and migration grow.
• Point out to students that society compromises of people from different religions, languages, race, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation.

Build a bridge to the topic by posing the question:

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Is cultural diversity beneficial to develop a successful organisation?

Another word for ‘organisation’ can be business or company or workplace.

Note for teacher: 

• Explain that there are various reasons why minority populations have struggled to take their place in businesses and boardrooms.
• Often businesses seem not to reflect society’s increasing cultural diversity in their makeup. Why? Why not? These are the questions we are exploring here.

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2. Preparing for the debate 25 - 35 minutes (depending on students’ age)

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(This should be done before the lesson/debate is taking place.)

Note for teacher: 

• Decide which version of the classroom debate/time chart you are going to use and display it for everyone to see:
  
  • Worksheet 3 - ages 11-14, approx. 25 minutes
    Do make sure that the age group 11-14 is familiar with the following vocabulary associated with the debate system: affirmative argument, opposing argument, counterpoint, rebut/rebuttal.
  • Worksheet 4 - ages15 plus, (with crossfire extension), approx. 35 minutes
  • Worksheet 2 can also be displayed for everyone to see (all ages)

• Set up the room and arrange chairs in rows facing each other.
• Divide the pupils into two teams: Team A and Team B, one for and one against the motion.
• Every pupil needs a piece of paper and a pen. Give every team also one big sheet of paper for the brainstorming session activity later on.

Step 1:  Individual brainstorm

3 minutes, individual students of each team have 3 minutes to write down at least one point relevant to the topic and relevant to their motion on their own piece of paper. The points should have been elicited from the previous warm up activity.

Step 2: Group brainstorming:

4 minutes, ask the pupils to now collect all the individual arguments and write them down in their big sheet of paper. (e.g. spider diagram)

Step 3: Assigning roles:

Ask the teams to now assign roles within their groups: Researchers, Opening Speaker (1^stSpeaker), Rebuttal Speaker (2^nd Speaker) 3 minutes, Closing Speaker (3rd Speaker) 3 minutes 

Ages 11-14: Hand out Worksheets 1a) to Team A  and Worksheet 1b) to Team B or vice versa and  Worksheet 1c) to both teams. Ages 15 plus:  Hand out Worksheet 5  

The two teams should now be given time to collect and organize ideas into concise arguments which they can use in their speeches and get rid of arguments which are weak or not relevant. They should prepare counterarguments by guessing what the other team will be saying. The speeches will now be structured and planned.  25-30 minutes

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Teacher to set rules:

• All arguments must be heard
• Remind students to be aware of the time chart/debate outline (Worksheet 3 or Worksheet 4), as displayed earlier.
• Time limits must be adhered to 1 minutes

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3. The Debate: 24-33 minutes (depending on students’ age)

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 Follow the outline of Worksheet 3, (ages 11-14) or    Worksheet 4, (ages 15 plus)
approx. 24-33 minutes

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4. Closing Activity: 5 minutes

Non debate students, if there are any, can be adjudicators to help learn how to be objective in rating their peer’s performance. They may be the judges and decide which side presented a stronger case voting at its conclusion for winners of the debate. Some might have changed their minds, if time allows, ask them why.

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Worksheet 1 a)

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Some arguments for  diversity in companies 

• Cultural diversity can increase cultural awareness in the office and market
• Cultural awareness can help bring novel ideas and the best practices to the organisation
• A diverse workforce can better identify a range of business opportunities
• Workplaces can become more modern and cultural aware, which in turn can affect business and the services it provides and its relationship with others
• Employers who feel more welcomed in cooperations are likely to be more motivated to contribute to the efficiency of the workplace
• Cultural diversity in the workplace may lead to greater profits for an organisation
• Friendly competition can make the workplace an enjoyable and more exciting place to be
• A broader prospective in decision making is guaranteed by a more diverse workforce
• Research shows that a culturally diverse workforce reduces conflict
• Cultural diversity within the office can make people from different backgrounds feel more welcomed.

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Worksheet 1 b)

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Some arguments against diversity in companies 

• Some businesses may be restricted based on the size of their organisation
• Consequently efficiency, job satisfaction and customer service are reduced
• Cultural diversity can create conflict in the workplace
• The workplace may not be the best place to bring about cultural awareness
• Awareness of culture is meaningless without acceptance and respect, two aspects that are helpful for working together
• Overemphasis on culture diversity in a workforce can lead to division into cliques and communication breakdown
• Being aware of a culture does not equate to successfully marketing towards that culture
• A large -scale US study recently found that diversity make people feel more uncomfortable
• Cultural diversity can reduce the efficiency of work
• Cultural diversity can create communication issues in an organisation.

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Worksheet 1 c)

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Diversity in Companies

Decide which statement is Pro (FOR) and which is Cons (AGAINST) Cultural diversity at the workplace.

• Friendly competition can make the workplace an enjoyable and more exciting place to be.
• Cultural awareness in the workplace may lead to greater profits for an organisation.
• Being aware of culture does not equate to successfully marketing towards that culture.
• Awareness of culture is meaningless without acceptance and respect, two aspects that are helpful for working together.
• Cultural diversity can help bring in novel ideas and the best practices to the organisation.
• The workplace may not be the best place to bring in cultural awareness.
• Cultural diversity can create conflict within the workplace.
• A large-scale US study recently found that diversity makes people feel more uncomfortable.
• Cultural diversity can increase cultural awareness in the office and market.
• Employees who feel more welcomed in cooperations are likely to be more motivated to work. 

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Worksheet 1d) 

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Answer sheet to 1c)

PRO (FOR cultural diversity at the workplace)

• Friendly competition can make the workplace an enjoyable and more exciting place to be.
• Cultural awareness in the workplace may lead to greater profits for an organisation.
• Cultural diversity can help bring in novel ideas and the best practices to the organisation.
• Cultural diversity can increase cultural awareness in the office and market.
• Employees who feel more welcomed in corporations are likely to be more motivated to work.

CONS (AGAINST cultural diversity at the workplace)

• Being aware of culture does not equate to successfully marketing towards that culture.
• Awareness of culture is meaningless without acceptance and respect, two aspects that are helpful for working together.
• The workplace may not be the best place to bring in cultural awareness.
• Cultural diversity can create conflict within the workplace.
• A large-scale US study recently found that diversity makes people feel more uncomfortable.

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Worksheet 2 (all age groups)

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A few ways to give your opinion:

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Introduction:

• I ask (this motion asks) you to consider
• It is undeniable that
• I (this motion) strongly believe(s) that
• It is obvious that
• It is clear that
• The position held is
• The fact is that

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Persuasive phrases:

• I implore you
• For these reasons
• It is imperative that
• We utterly condemn
• It’s clear for all to see that
• The matter of fact is
• Evidence overwhelmingly shows
• The most compelling reason

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Worksheet 3

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Worksheet 4

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Round 1:
Crossfire: Extension for older pupils: Team A, 1st speaker and Team B, 1st speaker have an opportunity to ask the other team questions, an important time to clarify information and trying to undermine their opponents’ arguments. 3 minutes

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Round 2:
Crossfire: 3 minutes

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Round 3:
Crossfire, all speakers 3 minutes

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24 minutes with crossfire approx. 33 minutes

Additional 2 minutes each team prep time, shared between teammates. Can be used any time, e.g. before a crossfire, if there were something about which they would like to confer.

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Worksheet 5

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Addition to Activity 4 – online resources

(for ages 15 plus), extension

Use and work through the research articles online in preparation for your arguments in your debate. 

Build your argument by making a plan of what you want to say. 

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Online Articles:

Pro:

• Top firms failing to increase number of ethnic minorities (October 2018)
• The importance of cultural diversity in the workplace (October 2024)

Cons:

• Is diversity too big an issue for small businesses? (April 2018)
• Companies should stop focusing on diversity (April 2018)

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Note for students: Go to the section: entitled: ‘Six benefits of cultural diversity in the workplace’ and use the examples following this section.

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The following article is useful for both Teams:

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• 13 Benefits and challenges of cultural diversity in the workplace (April 2024)

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Note for students: the 7 benefits mentioned are pro points and the 6 challenges mentioned in this article can be adapted to cons points.

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Plan of Action:                                                                                                    Tips:

Make a plan of what you want to say                                                          tell a personal story                                                  

Include an introduction                                                                                    give an expert opinion

State who you are                                                                                                include statistics

State what you are arguing                                                                              ask rhetorical questions

Preview the arguments                                                                                      use repetition

Run through points you will be making                                                      make your opinion very clear

Now go into the main point of your argument                                          

Each argument should follow:                                                                       

• A point                                                                                                      
• An explanation
• Evidence

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Remember:

• Use a strong voice and make eye contact and watch your body language

• Consider your audience

• you should think about what points the other team will make and come up with a rebuttal for them.
• Be assertive and gracious and watch your tone of voice
• Bring a summary and remind the audience of the covered points.

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Worksheet 6

Extension Activities for any age group:

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1. ‘According to ‘Contact Theories’ in psychology, exposure to minority cultures reduces stereotyping.’ Find out more about the person behind ‘Contact Theory’ and discuss if you agree or disagree with this statement.
2. Hollywood has tried to adapt its context to cultural diversity by creating different versions or remakes of the same kind of movies. Give examples. Is this a good idea, what do you think?