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Chapter 64
Leveraging Workforce Diversity
and Team Development
ABSTRACT
In this broadening landscape of business, corporations are encouraged to develop global leaders.
“Changes in workforce demographics resulting from globalization, combined with the rising popularity
of team-based management techniques, have resulted in a practical concern with the management of
multicultural groups” (Thomas, 1999, p. 242). Organizations are challenged to implement a compre-
hensive approach to global development that encompasses different cultural perspectives. This chapter
proposes to utilize team-based learning within a cross-cultural work-group. The use of a collaborative
approach supports the social dimensions of learning and can exhibit greater productivity for indi-
viduals. According to Jonassen, Strobel, and Lee (2006) as cited by Schaffer, Lei, and Paulino (2008),
“Knowledge exists not only in the heads of learners, but also in the conversations and social relations
among collaborators” (p. 144).
This chapter will emphasize the importance of collaborative team-based work groups among diverse
settings. First, the authors will discuss the factors of diverse teams and identify the stages of group devel-
opment focusing on Tuckman’s Model. In addition, Gert Hofstede’s cultural dimension will be addressed.
Finally, organizational contexts that impact the performance of diverse teams such will be explored.
Aileen G. Zaballero
Pennsylvania State University, USA
Hsin-Ling Tsai
Pennsylvania State University, USA
Philip Acheampong
Pennsylvania State University, USA
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4979-8.ch064