Group Cohesion and Workers' Diversity in Selected Manufacturing Companies in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

In the current competitive and global conditions, it is assumed that organizations with a diverse staff outperform those without. Diversity in the workforce broadens the pool of talent available to a business and allows its individuals to benefit from each other's backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. The workforce is varied because of diversity. This study examined the effect of worker diversity on group cohesion in selected manufacturing companies in the Enugu metropolis. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study consists of the staff of two selected manufacturing companies in Enugu state namely; Innoson Group and Nigerian Breweries Plc. They are made up of two hundred and eighty-seven (287) respondents. Cochran sample size derivation statistic was used to derive the sample size of the study and the value yielded one hundred and sixty-four (164). A simple random sampling technique was used as the sampling technique for the reason that the method ensures an equal chance of selection among the respondents. The data for the study was collected with the aid of a questionnaire that is properly designed using the 5-scale Likert system. Data collected from the questionnaire were analyzed and interpreted accordingly with the aid of descriptive statistical techniques such as simple percentages and regression analysis. The major findings of the study showed that age diversity contributes positively and significantly to group cohesion in selected manufacturing companies in Enugu metropolis, ethnic diversity contributes positively and significantly to group cohesion in selected manufacturing companies in Enugu metropolis and gender diversity contributes positively and significantly to group cohesion. It is the recommendation of the study that the management of companies should ensure there are no internal forms of discrimination based on the diversity of the workforce and sometimes, diverse groups will start forming cliques of sameness in the organization. The management of these companies should watch out for these developments.