Workforce Diversity and the Performance of Telecommunication Firms: The Interactive Effect of Employee Engagement (A Conceptual Framework)
Mrs Doris Wanja Gitonga; Dr Mary Kamaara, Ph.D; Dr George Orwa, Ph.D

Abstract
This concept paper examines the way various elements of workforce diversity namely; age, gender, work experience and culture can significantly influence the performance of organizations with specific reference to telecommunication firms in Kenya. Workforce diversity has evolved to be a moral, social, and economic factor as well as a legal responsibility of employers. The value of diversity at the workplace is also becoming a key business consideration of most organizations. Close and continuous attention to the issues of workforce diversity is important because it can be a major source of competitive advantage. It can also be a source of organizational conflict leading to poor employee relations and low employee engagement. Workforce diversity issues may also adversely affect an organization’s public reputation, competitiveness and can significantly threaten the bottom line. The paper further seeks to examine as to whether employee engagement moderates the relationship between workforce diversity and organizational performance. Based on the review of literature, this article develops a conceptual model that explains how an integration of various workforce diversity elements may influence the performance of organizations.

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