CULTURAL DIVERSITY AS A CHANGE AGENT IN INTERNATIONALIZATION OF FOREIGN MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN SOUTH-EAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Cultural ethics, perceptions and customs prevalent in societies often influence how organizations function, frame strategies and approach issues. The study is on cultural diversity as a change agent in internationalization of  foreign manufacturing firms in Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopts the survey research design on a finite population of 50, thus adopted as the sample size because of the size of the population. Data analysis was carried out using the ordinary least square regression analysis. Result shows that with F-statistic : 5.693 greater than F 0.05, 3, 46 = 2.84, Cultural Diversity indices (Socio economic status, Gender and Race) have joint significant effect on Internationalization of foreign manufacturing firms. It was recommended among others that foreign firms should ensure that Cultural ethics, perceptions and customs prevalent in the societies are efficiently managed so as not to influence how organizations function. The study concludes that Cultural Diversity indices (Socio economic status, Gender and Race) have significant joint effect on Internationalization of  foreign manufacturing firms in Imo State, Nigeria