EFFECT OF WORKFORCE DIVERSITY ON THE COMPETITIVIENESS OF NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY IN ENUGU, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT This study was motivated by the need to ascertain the effects of workforce diversity on the competitiveness of Nigerian bottling company in Enugu, Nigeria. The study was guided by four key objectives from which appropriate research questions and objectives were formulated. The study adopted a survey design. The research instruments were structured questionnaire. The population of the study was 816, from which a sample size of 197 was determined using Bill Godden formula at 5% error tolerance and 95% level of confidence. The sources of data were primary and secondary. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire while secondary data were gotten from statistical bulletins, electronic journals, theses and dissertation repositories. The primary instrument for data collection was designed on a 5-point Likert scale in line with the objectives of the study. A total of 197 copies of questionnaire were distributed to respondent, out of which 190 copies were correctly filled and returned. Validity of the instrument was carried-out using content validity, and this was done by 5 management experts from both the academia and the food and beverages industry. The reliability of the instrument was tested using internal consistency test which made use of Cronbach alpha as a test statistic, and the result yielded 0.833. The hypotheses were tested using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and simple linear regression statistical tools at 5% probability level of significance. The findings of the study were as follows: there was a significant positive relationship between ethnic diversity and workforce innovativeness (r = 0.835, p