Identifying Operations Effectiveness Between Different Cultural Teams

: Issues and Challenges a Case in the Military Organisation

Abstract

Managing a Diverse workforce in the aviation industry is a massive challenge. Therefore, best management practices with appropriate performance measurements are required. This study addresses the issues and challenges of managing Emirati and non-Emirati workforce in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This exploratory study aims to understand how diversity is managed within a public sector organisation and to identify the issues and challenges faced. In addition, the research highlights the importance of workforce diversity in the UAE aviation industry and discusses how to get the maximum benefits from this diversity and the expat workforce. Moreover, the study highlights the current situation in the UAE aviation industry regarding Emirati and non-Emirati teams with their human resources management practices and workforce performance. The study analyses the extent of the literature review to gain information from existing research and build upon it a new framework. A new research methodology was adopted that has not been used before in the industry. The methodology adopts an inductive ethnographic approach as qualitative research Overall Team Effectiveness (OTE) to measure the teams' Availability, Performance, and Quality. In addition, a deductive phenomenological research methodology was adopted as a qualitative research Group Consensuses Theory (GCT) approach that seeks to understand the essence of the specific phenomenon involving a diversified workforce used to explore the challenges in a case study, and this enabled unravelling the meanings of participants’ interactions with explanations grounded in the participants' own experiences. This was done by investigating the work experiences of Emirati and non- Emirati teams to explore the sensitive issues and challenges in the case study. A qualitative multi-method in triangulation methods, namely, observation, focus group, and survey in triangulated approach, were adopted with inductive logical reasoning from purposefully selected observational settings, individuals and groups. Careful thematic analysis was undertaken to identify the resonant issues related to diversity management in this context, including the dynamics of team management in diverse cultures and the problems & challenges associated with individuals’ and teams’ performance. The findings revealed that non-Emirati teams have outstanding performance and team dynamics compared with Emirati teams. In addition, the findings highlight how to get the benefits in terms of organisational learning and performance. Gain a competitive advantage through the non-Emirati teams' experience by merging them with Emirati team members. Moreover, the research highlighted appropriate measurement techniques for analysing team performance and developing
a management framework to put the teams in the right direction. The contributions and implications are about exploring the diverse workforce management in the public sector and military organisations in which the role leaders and managers have to play with a focus on (GCT), (OTE) Performance Management, issues and challenges faced. The study suggests the future scope of research for a unified understanding of diversity management. The study recommends reducing and overcoming the problems and challenges faced with solutions. The study's originality is a deeper understanding of the demographically diverse workforce with ample formal military organisation in the UAE’s public sector. Due to the development of the UAE, successful workforce management will be a critical indicator of public sector performance, where leaders, managers, and teams have a crucial role in overcoming the issues and challenges faced.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Aberystwyth University
Supervisor	Andrew Thomas (Supervisor)