A phenomenological study on lived experience with equity, diversity, and inclusion of multinational enterprise employees residing in the homogenous Republic of Armenia

Abstract

This phenomenological study explored the lived experience of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) among multinational enterprise employees (MNE) in the homogenous Republic of Armenia. Addressing a literature gap in non-Western perspectives, the research emphasized the importance of local context in crafting effective EDI interventions for this population. Through semi-structured interviews with seven employees from a tech based MNE in Yerevan, the study aimed to answer how the participants described their overall experiences with EDI, both before and during employment at the MNE. By employing member-checking and practicing epoche, the study aimed to capture the participants’ authentic voices more accurately. In-depth qualitative analysis yielded five key findings: (1) Intercultural competence development: Informal transformative learning drives personal and professional growth within the MNE context; (2) The double-edged sword of commonality: The subduing of cultural differences; (3) The uneven landscape of a lingua franca: Constrained employees and diminished productivity; (4) Perception bias breeds inequity: Non-Armenians are viewed as superior professionals within the MNE environment; and (5) The power of diversity: Multicultural perspectives enrich common goals. The study provides a foundation for diversity management scholars and human resources professionals to build upon in developing targeted interventions for this population.