Evaluating the Impact of Employee Diversity Cognizance on Decision-Making at Different Management Levels in Malawi’s Public Institutions: A Case Study of the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW)

Katopola, Vincent Thoko (2021) Evaluating the Impact of Employee Diversity Cognizance on Decision-Making at Different Management Levels in Malawi’s Public Institutions: A Case Study of the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW). Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of employee diversity cognizance on decision-making at different management levels in Malawi’s public institutions. The study specifically focused on the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare (MoGCDSW), the custodian for gender equality and social welfare policy formulation. To find the answers to the research problem, the study had four specific objectives.

The investigation adopted a qualitative research design that followed an Interpretivism research philosophy by sampling 28 employees from different management levels of the MoGCDSW who shared varying perceptions and experiences on workforce diversity management and their contribution to decision-making. The data for the study was collected through online semi-structured interviews due to Covid19 pandemic limitations and was analysed using thematic analysis.

The findings of the research indicate that employee diversity has an impact on the decision-making processes of an institution at different management levels. The study has also revealed the relationship that exists between employee diversity and institutional innovation and performance. The findings also indicate that diversity exists in the MoGCDSW and that the employees accept and understand the existing employee diversity. The findings have further indicated that low management level employees and frontline managers are involved in the decision-making processes of the Ministry and that their inputs and views make a difference. However, the findings have also discovered that embracing diversity is not enough but the need to properly manage employee diversity to avoid the chaos that can come with increased differences.

Briefly, the findings of this study indicate that knowledge of existing employee diversity has an impact on the decision-making processes of MoGCDSW and other institutions. Therefore, the study recommends that Malawi public service institutions consider organizing regular training for employees on diversity management issues to keep up with economic, political and cultural globalization.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DT Africa H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Diversity J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government > Public Sector
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Science in Management
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	14 Feb 2022 15:46
Last Modified:	14 Feb 2022 15:46
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5435

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