Making diversity work: the changing cultures of Australian workplaces

In this paper, the authors argue that because Australia has one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the world, as well as one of the most export oriented economies, Australia is at the forefront of international developments in systems of work organisation, management and training. They assert that the strategies that have been developed in Australia to manage the local diversity and global connectedness are unequalled in their ingenuity and practical success by any other country of the world and that in addressing fundamental questions about the nature of...  [+] Show more

In this paper, the authors argue that because Australia has one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the world, as well as one of the most export oriented economies, Australia is at the forefront of international developments in systems of work organisation, management and training. They assert that the strategies that have been developed in Australia to manage the local diversity and global connectedness are unequalled in their ingenuity and practical success by any other country of the world and that in addressing fundamental questions about the nature of work, Australian workplaces have developed practices which have the potential to set global standards by establishing a new model of work and management. The authors call this the productive diversity model. To back these assertions, a narrative of the changing nature of work in the twentieth century is given.