EFFECT OF AGE DIVERSITY, GENDER DIVERSITY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the effect of workforce diversity and organizational performance in federal universities in southeast. The problems o this study was the discriminatory attitude of some workforce, individual identity, lack of cooperation amongst workers has been extended by workers in same diverse organization beyond limits, which dampens morale with negative performance index. The researcher developed three objectives such as to: Determine the effect of age diversity on organizational performance of federal universities in southeast, Nigeria. Ascertain the effect of gender diversity on organizational performance of federal universities in southeast, Nigeria. Examine the effect of cultural diversity on organizational performance of federal universities in southeast, Nigeria. This work is anchored on the Social Identity Theory (SIT),. The study adopted survey method of research. Data were generated through primary and secondary sources. The method for data collection was questionnaire which was administered randomly among the staff of the federal universities in South East. The population of the study was 10676. The sample size of the study was three hundred and eighty-five (385). While three hundred and forty-seven (347) where retrieved. The hypotheses were tested using regression analysis method at 0.05% level of significance. The findings of the study revealed, Age diversity has no significant effect on organizational performance of federal universities in South East Nigeria. T-statistics of 1.051 and probability value of 1.012. Gender diversity has significant effect on organizational performance of federal universities in South East Nigeria. T-statistics of 2.014 and probability value of 000. Ethnic diversity has significant effect on organizational performance of teaching hospitals in South East Nigeria. T-statistics of 2.112 and probability value of 0.000. The study recommends that For firms to foster and promote workforce innovativeness, other things being equal, they need to adopt the culture of recruiting work-teams characterized with ethnicity diversity, to enhance idea generation, idea exploration, fine-tuning and implementation. Firms need to some level of age diversity within their workforce to ensure that the proper balance is created to enhance their proper adaptation to changes. This study also recommends that Organizational leaders/managers should formulate policies that guide against gender discrimination in their organizations in other to encourage innovative and creativity.