A study presented at the University of Verona examined the challenges and opportunities associated with multiculturalism within organisations
Diversity that unites, not divides. Differences that enrich. Cultures that blend to create new ones. This is today’s wealth, which needs to be understood, including by businesses. ‘Competenze interculturali nei luoghi di lavoro. Ricerca sulla gestione delle diversità in azienda per la promozione di buone pratiche’ (Intercultural skills in the workplace: research into diversity management in companies to promote good practice) is a thesis project presented by Elena Guerra at the University of Verona. It examines a specific aspect of diversity within manufacturing organisations, focusing on the various skills that can be found there.
The research specifically aimed to investigate ‘whether and how intercultural skills are actually utilised in the workplace by men and women employed in small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Italy, particularly in roles involving the coordination, supervision or management of work teams’. Taking into account not only cultural or religious differences, but also those related to gender, age, and other identity factors, the investigation aimed to understand which skills could improve the organisational climate and promote proactive diversity management practices. But there’s more. In fact, Elena Guerra’s work has sought to provide company executives with new guidelines for recruiting and training staff in an increasingly diverse global context.
Her research is rich in both theoretical and practical insights. She has combined existing literature on the subject with fieldwork comprising 22 interviews with managers of Northern Italian companies employing between 100 and 1,000 staff. This was followed by focus groups designed to validate the findings. This demonstrates the importance of appreciating the richness that diversity brings and how far we still have to go before reaching our goal.
Elena Guerra
Dissertation, University of Verona, Department of Humanities, 2026
