Talk show

Moderator; Aoa, My name is Zainab and today we are gathered to discuss a topic which is not only
important for the organization but also for every individual who wants to grow personally and
professionally and the one who wants to improve his interpersonal and communications skills. Today’s
discussion will help each and every one of us in developing our personality which will help us further in
achieving milestones in our respective Careers. So coming towards the topic. Today our topic is:

Can people with vastly different cultural backgrounds work together? How would this
impact the organization in today’s World:

To discuss this topic today I have a panel of university students who are studying Business
Administration. They will share their point of views on today’s topic. My panel includes Nimra Zafar,
Faria Noor and Ghulam Saba. Hello everyone I hope you are doing well. I am grateful to all of you for
accepting my invitation.

So starting the discussion from Ghulam Saba…

Q1. According to you what is cultural diversity in the workplace?

Cultural diversity in the workplace is when companies are open to hiring employees from all
sorts of different backgrounds; regardless of race, religion and culture. When companies recruit
and retain a diverse pool of people, it brings about different benefits to the company as well as its
employees.

Think of the human race as a whole; we are a very diverse species across the globe, with many
different cultures, languages and beliefs. Companies can also gain from each employee by
learning from each other’s experiences and applying this new-found knowledge to their work. It
can bring creativity and innovation in the organization. Employees from all sorts of different
backgrounds get to learn from their colleagues’ experiences from a different perspective. Thus,
they are able to bring fresh ideas to the project by thinking out of their comfort zone. Their
multiple talents can also be put to good use in international negotiations.

Moderator; Very well said Miss Saba, cultural diversity do have an impact on company’s
growth.

Now I will ask from Nimra to tell

Q#2: How Diverse cultural perspectives can inspire creativity and drive innovation as said
by saba? What are your views on it, Do you agree?

Ans: Yes, a Diverse cultural perspectives can inspire creativity and drive innovation through
variety of viewpoints along with the wide-ranging personal and professional experience of an
international team can offer new perspectives that inspire colleagues to see the workplace and the
world differently.

Diversity of thought has been shown to breed creativity and drive innovation, helping to solve
problems and meet customer needs in new and exciting ways.

Multiple voices, perspectives, and personalities bouncing off one another can give rise to out-of-
the-box thinking. By offering a platform for the open exchange of ideas, businesses can reap the
biggest benefits of diversity in the workplace. The best way to ensure the development of new
ideas is through a diverse and inclusive workforce.”

Moderator; I agree with you Nimra, you have explained really well for our audience that
how cultural diversity can inspire creativity and drive innovation

Now we will move on to Faria Noor,

Q#3: So, As it is really important for employers and employees to understand each other
especially if they belong to different cultures. So what do you think, What needs to be done
to improve understanding between employees?

Different people from different cultures use different communication styles. You may be the type
of person who gets right to the point. However, a colleague may take a more circular approach
and take longer to say what needs to be said. Understanding the different communication styles
and how culture influences them will help to ease frustration and promote understanding, not just
for you, but for your colleagues, as well.

There are different communication styles that cover most cultures in the world. They are:

Linear versus circular. Linear discussions get straight to the point. Circular discussions involve
telling stories around the main point.

Direct versus indirect. In direct communication, statements are made directly to the people
involved. In indirect communication, communication is made through suggestion, implication,
and other cues, and may be made within earshot or through a third party. This is to avoid
confrontation.
Detached versus attached. Attached communication is made with feeling and emotion;
whereas, detached communication favors objectivity.

Americans tend to be linear, direct, detached, intellectually engaged, and concrete. However, a
lot of African, Pacific, and Asian cultures prefer circular, indirect, attached, and relationally
engaged.

Of course, this can differ in other countries, regions, and cultures. Being aware of different
communication styles, though, is the start to understanding and becoming more sensitive when
someone communicates using a different style than you.

Moderator:

That’s absolutely right, implementation of suitable communication styles by managers can

really improve understanding between workers and also between top management and
employers.

Now we will come back to Ghulam Saba … Saba, tell me

Q#4: Do you agree that diverse cultures can provide a greater opportunity for personal and
professional growth?

Yes I do agree with this because an inclusive and culturally diverse business will attract talented,
ambitious, and globally minded professionals who will appreciate the opportunity for personal
and professional growth.

Working across cultures can be a truly enriching experiencing, allowing others to learn about
perspectives and traditions from around the world. Bonding over similarities and differences can
help you to become a global citizen, abandoning prejudices or an ethnocentric world view—
something that is increasingly valuable.

A diverse set of colleagues can be professionally enriching too—exposing you to new skills and
approaches to work, and developing an international network that can take your career in
exciting new directions or abroad.

Moderator; very well said, Saba, diverse cultures do have great benefits for growth
purpose, whether its personally or professionally.

Now I will ask from Nimra to share her views on….

Moderator; that’s right Nimra. Now I will move on to Faria to tell us about

Moderator; yes you are right, diversity among teams do have an impact on the
performance level of employees.

Now I will ask saba to share her thoughts on

Q7; How diverse skills base allows an organization to offer a broader and more adaptable
range of products and services as mentioned earlier by Nimra? What are your thoughts on
it?

A diverse skills base allows an organization to offer a broader and more adaptable range of
products and services. By drawing from a culturally diverse talent pool, companies benefit from
hiring professionals with a broad range of skills that are often not accessible when hiring locally.

A broader skills base and a more potentially diverse offering of products and services can help
your business to have the competitive advantage of adaptability. In today’s volatile and uncertain
global business environment, nimble and adaptable organizations are the ones that thrive.

Adaptability means faster and more effective planning, development, and execution. A company
with cultural and cognitive diversity can be quicker to spot a gap in the market. It will also have
the global (or market-specific) insight and experience to help a new or adapted product to meet
changing consumer behavior and succeed.

Moderator; absolutely right saba, Now I will ask Nimra that

Moderator:
So after all this discussion we can conclude that diverse cultures at
workplace do have its pros and cons but mostly it helps an individual to
grow personally and professionally, which ultimately results in the success
of the organization. organization can have a wide range of benefits, such as

 Increased productivity, creativity

 Wider range of skills
 And Improves cultural insights

All this can be achieved if there is clear understanding of the goals and objectives by
each member of the organization, so that’s all for today. We hope that our discussion
really have an impact on your understandings. Thank you to my panel again for taking
time to participate in our talkshow and for sharing their amazing point of views. And
thank you to the audience for listening to us. Have a good day. Take care and Allah
Nigehbaan.