Cultural Diversity in Hilton - Case Study Example

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Cultural diversity in Hilton

Introduction

The Hilton Worldwide holdings in an American international company of hospitality that is involved in franchising and managing many hotels and peripheral resort. The corporation that is currently under leadership of Christopher Nassetta was founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton who it was named after (Wikipedia 2013). Hilton Worldwide Holdings has now expanded its coverage to 100 countries with more than 300,000 Members of its team globally working across various corporate offices as well as their managed, owned and franchised properties. Within the workplaces and academic institutions, materials used should be representative and sensitive to every culture.

This paper will decipher through the cultural diversity issues in Hilton in the US particularly in relation to the workplace environment. The firm has faced myriad of challenges owing to the multinational and multiethnic nature of its workforce. Through the close to ten decades of the company’s existence, the firm has seen an influx of multinational and multiethnic workforce with very diverse cultural practices and inclinations (Walton 2004). This among other factors led to the concept of environmental justice in reference to the work environment.

Environmental justice means the meaningful involvement and equitable treatment of all people regardless of their color, race, income, or national origin, with respect to the formulation, crafting, implementation, and the enforcement of viable environmental policies, laws, and regulations. This paper will decipher through the cultural considerations in the Hilton Company vis-à-vis the benefits and challenges that the cultural diversity pose to the firm.

Historical background

Cultural diversity in the US can be traced back to the colonial and slavery eras that saw an influx of immigrants and slave to the US to offer cheap labor and to search for greater economic opportunities. The issue of immigrants in the US is one of the significant issues that led to multiculturalism in America.

The US experienced an immense wave of immigration during the colonial times from the 1880s to 1930s. Most immigrants came to the US in search for a greater economic opportunity; in search for religious pilgrims such as is the case for pilgrims, and as slaves to offer a cheaper and alternative source of labor. In America, slavery was introduced in 1619, when the first African slaves arrived to the North American colony of Jamestown to assist in the production of tobacco.

It was accepted and practiced throughout the 17th and the 18th centuries in all American colonies. In addition, the 1793 invention of the cotton gin solidified its primary significance. And later, slavery aided in the building of the economic foundations of America. Between the 16th and the 19th century, European colonies in America depended on enslaved Africans for cheap labor. They were captured in their native nations and transported mostly across the Atlantic Ocean to America where they were sold as slaves.

During that period, Americans needed them to work on the plantations where they grew sugarcane, tobacco, and rice. Once they harvested the produce, it was sold to other continents, including Africa, and the masters used the earnings they received to acquire more slaves, build infrastructure such as railways and roads, and improve the economy.

Another challenge the people of the modern United States are facing is the challenges of cultural diversity particularly at the workplace and academic settings. It should be recognized that social concepts such as family, spirituality, gender roles, and emotional well-being vary considerably across cultures and the same may influence their behavior significantly. Up to now, social conditions of the modern United States indicate that the nation is still struggling to control the impacts of cultural diversity (Purvis 2007).

At some point, people thought that this problem will come to an end or will be very insignificant, but such expectations are now seen as unrealistic. The issue of slavery and human right became a subject of debate mainly among many human rights activists after the westward expansion of America. The Union victories after the American Civil War in the 1860s led to the freeing of 4 million slaves in the nation. The white society was to accept all people and treat them equally irrespective of their skin color or origin. The US has since then had to contend with issues of cultural diversity due to the escalating numbers of immigrants from all over the world with different cultures and practices (Purvis 2007).

Even more, the cultural conflicts that have hit the United States resemble the ones of slavery periods. For instance, in the education sector, there are deep-rooted ethnic and racial gaps that have limited people from some races and ethnic groups from accessing education in some parts of the country and in some institutions. Despite its eradication over one and a half centuries ago, the legacy of slavery still lives up to today. For instance, it contributed immensely to the economic and education underdevelopment of Africa. Also, the same case is happening in the United States where those who were colonized are not economically empowered and some of them are uneducated. Therefore, regions and people subjected to cultural minorities ended up being underdeveloped (Walker & Miller 2010).

Discussion

What is cultural diversity?

Cultural diversity is a significant concept for the 21st century particularly in the hotel industry because of the enhanced mobility levels across the continents thus impacting the society and the work environment. Cultural diversity is a cross-cutting concept that involves the differences that exist in age, sexual orientation, race, gender religion, personality, skills, disability, and education.

The comprehension of cultural diversity is gaining much relevance with the increased globalization and multinational work environments and academic institutions (Henderson 2004). Currently, the work environments are crippling with challenges of managing workforce diversity as there has been increasing reports in areas of recruitment, training, selection and development. The United States of America (USA) has had to contend with issues of cultural diversity due to the escalating numbers of immigrants from all over the world with different cultures and practices.

The US Census Bureau in 2009 stated that the American population consisted of percent White population, 16 percent Latino or Hispanic, 13 percent African American, 5 percent Asian, 1 percent American Indian, 0.2 percent Native Hawaiian. Each of the races represented has a multitude of various ethnic groups. The multiethnic formation puts America in the spotlight as far as issues of multiculturalism are concerned.

Importance of cultural diversity

The concepts of cultural diversity and multiculturalism are those that cannot be wished away in the long-term management of national and multinational firms in the 21st century. Companies and hiring agencies ought to consider the cultural backgrounds of the subjects as major differences could be an impediment to the functionality of the organizations. With the cultural background known, such firms are able to take appropriate steps to overcome the cross-cultural barriers and bridge the gaps as required (Bode 2008).

The competitiveness of any organization is pegged on its ability to effectively manage the issues of cultural diversity and have effective communication lines and patterns that cut across all cultures. Within the workplaces and academic institutions, materials used should be representative and sensitive to every culture. Cultural diversity has also been significant in strengthening the bonds between different cultures and enhancing the interests in other cultural practices.

Cultural diversity remains a significant concept in the US because the schools and workplaces consist of increasing degrees of cultural diversity, ethnic groups and races. It should be recognized that social concepts such as family, spirituality, gender roles, and emotional well-being vary considerably across cultures and the same may influence their behavior significantly. The diverse groups could learn from each other but first have to acquire a basic level of understanding of the groups to foster cooperation and collaboration (Ferreira, Erasmus & Groenewald 2009).

Culture helps people to interpret what they see around them thus if people come into contact with a very different culture then they are likely to experience culture shock that would result in disorientation. Learning other culture helps us to comprehend the characteristics and different perspective of the world and also build bridges of understanding, trust, and mutual respect across cultures. Cultural diversity contributes to the literature, language skills, philosophies, knowledge and experience of the society.

Challenges of cultural diversity at Hilton

Hilton Worldwide Holdings has not escaped the scathing challenges that cultural diversity is posing to the multinational and multiethnic firms. Despite the many strengths of cultural diversity discussed, the concept also presents with diverse challenges. The first and foremost is the establishment of an effective communication pattern as the diverse groups present with cultural, perceptual, and language barriers that must be overcome to have the work places functioning optimally (Wuthnow 2005).

The second challenge has to do with resistance to change. Many factors could precipitate change in any organization and the factors could be classified as vertical, horizontal, external or internal. The factors, cultural diversity included, are collectively termed as the drivers of change of that particular institution. The process of overseeing changes in an organization is called change management. Change management is crucial in firms that contend with issues of cultural diversity as there are always people who will refuse to accept changes and the workplace dynamisms (Thyer 2010).

Implementation of workplace policies in a culturally diverse environment is also a major challenge for most firms. Both in cities and in rural areas, racism has grouped people into classes such as the black underclass, the second class citizens, and the black lower working class. The situation is getting even worse with time, and if it cannot be eliminated completely, it may bring unforeseen challenges.

The literature on cultural conflicts is intimately linked to the post-war economic developments multinational corporations, and their consultants. Mirroring real-life challenges, the study of political risk has been influenced by various disciplines, including management, finance, economics and political science. For instance, in the hotel and education sector, there are deep-rooted ethnic and racial gaps that have limited people from some races and ethnic groups from accessing education in some parts of the country and in some institutions. Cultural diversity has also led to the rise of minority groups and discrimination.

The Chicano community, for instance, is a group of people living in the southern part of America and is of Mexican-American descent. The community forms part of the minority groups living in the United States of America. The term also describes a kind of a social movement whose main focus is on the fair and equitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits (Gay 2003). Environmental justice means the meaningful involvement and equitable treatment of all people regardless of their color, race, income, or national origin, on the formulation, crafting, implementation, and the enforcement of viable environmental policies, laws, and regulations.

Overcoming cultural barriers in workplaces

The issue of overcoming cultural diversity at the Hilton Holdings Corporation has been a major subject of debate among the leadership ranks of the company. Cultural diversity could thus be supported by increasing the level of comprehension of other cultures through direct or direct interaction with people who belong to other ethnic groups with diverse cultures. Majority groups should resist any temptations of imposing their cultural values to others as that may cause a cultural conflict. For instance, when communicating to them in English language, the limitations they may have in the language proficiency must not be interpreted to reflect an underperformance in their intellectual capability (Brislin 2008).

It should be recognized that social concepts such as family, spirituality, gender roles, and emotional well-being vary considerably across cultures and the same may influence their behavior significantly. Within the workplaces and academic institutions, materials used should be representative and sensitive to every culture.

The literature on political risk is intimately linked to the economic developments multinational corporations, and their counterparts. Mirroring real-life challenges, the study of political risk has been influenced by various disciplines, including management, finance, economics and political science. By introducing new theoretical approached and methodologies, many of these disciplines have left their mark on the study of political risk. However, the flip side of the coin is that the literature on political risk has remained diverse, if not fragmented, with no clear theory emerging until now. Some even claim it has remained at the pre-theory stage of its evolution.

Solutions to cultural diversity

Some of the solutions that are considered to be appropriate to the Hilton Worldwide Holdings are to introduce training courses on the diverse multinational cultures to improve the level of understanding and reduce the level of cultural stereotyping that exists in multiethnic organizations. Another strategy for cultural diversity at the workplaces is to introduce the use of common language as this would eliminate the impression that some cultures are superior to others. To understand the political issues surrounding a social movement, the history of the subjects is significant (Kerwin 2010).

The introduction of annual celebrations of the international customs and traditions will also reinforce the intercultural interactions by fostering more cross cultural understanding. Firms and hiring agencies ought to consider the cultural backgrounds of the subjects as major differences could be an impediment to the functionality of the organizations. With the cultural background known, such firms are able to take appropriate steps to overcome the cross-cultural barriers and bridge the gaps as required.

The creation of internal newsletters is also a significant step towards making the minority groups feel represented. The widely used term expresses the cultural, ethnic, community pride, and sense of identity (Cox 2003). Environmental justice is a unique concept that demonstrates the meaningful involvement and equitable treatment of all people regardless of their color, race, income, or national origin, with respect to the formulation, crafting, implementation, and the enforcement of viable environmental policies, laws, and regulations.

The Hilton Worldwide Holdings should accept all people and treat them equally irrespective of their cultural inclination. Both in cities and in rural areas, racism has grouped people into classes such as the black underclass, the second class citizens, and the black lower working class. The situation is getting even worse with time, and if it cannot be eliminated completely, it may bring unforeseen challenges (Hoggan 2013).

Mirroring real-life challenges, the study of political risk has been influenced by various disciplines, including management, finance, economics and political science. By introducing new theoretical approached and methodologies, many of these disciplines have left their mark on the study of political risk. However, the flip side of the coin is that the literature on political risk has remained diverse, if not fragmented, with no clear theory emerging until now.

Conclusion

The Hilton Worldwide holdings in a multinational American international company of hospitality with a multiethnic workforce that is involved in franchising and managing many hotels. The company formed the major focus of the discussion as the paper dissected through the cultural diversity challenges and benefits to the firm and navigating through the possible solutions to the discussed challenges.

Cultural diversity in the US has a historical basis that can be traced back to the colonial and slavery eras that saw an influx of immigrants and slave to the US to offer cheap labor and to search for greater economic opportunities. The modern United States are facing is the challenges of cultural diversity particularly at the workplace and academic settings. With the cultural background known, such firms are able to take appropriate steps to overcome the cross-cultural barriers and bridge the gaps as required.

The competitiveness of any organization is pegged on its ability to effectively manage the issues of cultural diversity and have effective communication lines and patterns that cut across all cultures. Hilton Worldwide Holdings has faced significant challenges that cultural diversity is posing to the multinational and multiethnic firms. Some of the challenges that have been cited include the resistance to change by some of the cultural groups and the language barriers that affected communication significantly.

With the cultural background known, such firms are able to take appropriate steps to overcome the cross-cultural barriers and bridge all the gaps. Cultural diversity could be supported by increasing the comprehension of other cultures through interaction with people who belong to other ethnic groups with diverse cultures. Cultural barriers have been overcome by increasing the level of comprehension of other cultures through direct or direct interaction with people who belong to other ethnic groups with diverse cultures. Another strategy for cultural diversity at the Hilton Holdings is to introduce the use of common language as this would eliminate the impression that some cultures are superior to others.