AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND THE APPLICABILITY OF ADR METHODS IN IRISH ORGANISATIONS

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the phenomenon of multiculturalism in Irish workplaces and its impact on the occurrence of conflicts in those environments. Further, the researcher aimed to clarify to what degree workers from Irish organisations are aware of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods and if such techniques have been utilised in the workplaces. In order to collect the primary data, this research observes an interpretivist philosophy. In the form of a questionnaire, a quantitative approach was delivered to fifty-four employees of Irish organisations of eleven different nationalities, resulting in a considerable range of multicultural respondents. The findings of this project confirm a strong presence of cultural diversity in Irish working environments and that most employees face it in a positive manner. It also indicates a lack of understanding in relation to the term ADR; however, most participants were familiarised with the process of mediation. The research also reveals that the comprehension of the term ADR was limited to HR employees and construction workers. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the majority of Irish workplaces place the role of conflict resolution on HR workers and line managers, where only the minority of the participants appointed mediation as the approach adopted by their workplaces. Finally, no respondents demonstrated to utilise the services provided by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to assist in the resolution of in-service disputes. The size of the sample collected may represent a limitation of this project. Nevertheless, it contributes to a better understanding that Ireland’s workplaces embrace diversity but still prefer conventional conflict management methods over ADR techniques.