Exploring Intercultural Communication as a Means to Promote Inclusivity in Diverse Organisations: A Study in a South African University

Abstract

The paper aimed at exploring intercultural communication as a means to promote inclusivity in diverse organisations. The study adopted a case study design with qualitative data. A semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions was utilised as the main data collection tool from a sample of ten purposively selected professionals from the departments responsible for transformation, employment equity, and diversity; human resources development, corporate affairs, and marketing. The study’s findings showed that the university lacked a well-thought-out action plan for taking a deliberate approach to intercultural communication as a means to promote inclusivity. In particular, the staff felt that there was no deliberate attempt to guarantee that intercultural communication was handled uniformly throughout the university and that communication strategy documents did not offer direction regarding how successful intercultural communication could take place. The university’s current practices in relation to cultural awareness and training initiatives only focus on cultural diversity and should be amplified to include raising awareness of how intercultural communication can unify people who differ culturally towards a common purpose. Furthermore, the university should consider expanding its current cultural diversity training programmes to include training on intercultural communication dimensions. Cultural awareness campaigns in the form of information fliers, cultural events, and cultural training sessions should form an integral part of intercultural communication enhancement initiatives.