Diversity management in Germany: dissemination and design of the concept

The concept of diversity management, which stems from the USA, has been advancing rapidly in Germany since the late 1990s. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of empirical research into the dissemination and application of the concept in Germany. A survey conducted among 210 companies seeks to identify factors influencing the implementation of diversity management and presents first results concerning its design and cultural adaptation. Findings reveal a sharp increase in the use of diversity management in Germany. Whether companies use the concept depends in particular on their size and country of origin. Other influencing factors can be explained on the basis of sociological new institutionalism and are considered as signs that the increasing dissemination may (also) be ascribed to isomorphic processes. Further, a country-of-origin- effect for subsidiaries of US multinational companies in Germany is detected. This effect cannot be identified for the design of the concept, so that it is perceived as being cultural-invariant in Germany.