Managing diversity at the work place : analysing the relationship between cultural intelligence, interpersonal leadership skills and team dynamics

Abstract

This study investigates managing diversity at the workplace by analysing the relationship between cultural intelligence, interpersonal leadership skills and team dynamics of a multicultural team. While the three elements investigated in this research have been studied separately before, there seems to be a gap in literature combining all three elements together. In an increasingly multicultural world of work, it was essential and of particular interest to investigate the correlations between these three elements. Adopting a quantitative approach, data was collected through an anonymous online Likert-scale survey questionnaire, distributed amongst a sample of team leaders and team members making part of multicultural teams within an international company in the i-gaming industry based in Malta. Results and data collected were analysed using statistical procedures. Research findings suggest that the team leader’s CQ does play a role in relation to the team dynamics of a multicultural team. In addition, though weak, a positive correlation was noted between the team leader’s interpersonal leadership skills and the team dynamics of a multicultural team. Also the positive correlation was noted between the team leader’s interpersonal leadership skills and the team dynamics of a multicultural team. Despite its limitations, through its findings this study has provided further insight to this area of research. Hence this study contributes to adding value to the importance of cultural intelligence, interpersonal leadership skills and team dynamics as part of managing diversity at the workplace, providing involved parties with noteworthy findings while possibly enticing and inspiring further research.