Challenging leadership thinking for strategic improvement.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this paper is to explore the conceptual link between cultural diversity in work teams and creative learning. The principle sources used in the preparation of this theoretical analysis include published literature on the topic of diversity in the workplace and personal observation. A primary outcome of this paper is that leaders may be able to harness the creative potential of multicultural teams to develop learning organizations. The development of perception as a social and cultural phenomenon is presented as the conceptual link between culture and creativity. To take advantage of cultural diversity, leaders are encouraged to develop an integrating corporate culture, stimulate learning through dialogue, value individual contributions to group learning, and develop a philosophy of synergy. It is hoped that these recommendations may serve as a means of assessing the organization's capacity to use cultural diversity in the generation of innovative ideas and thereby promote the learning organization.