Diversity Management & Industrial Relations– Convergence or Divergence

According to recent studies by the “Institute for Future Studies” located in Austria, eleven significant so-called megatrends within Western Society have been formed over the past 30 years. One significant trend investigated was the shift in employee relations from a collective to an individualistic approach. This paper had the objective to better understand, how collectivism and individualism in the context of Diversity Management and Neo- Institutionalism converge or diverge. Historical developments and theoretical foundations of Industrial Relations and Diversity Management were part of this research as well as related perspectives of trade union representatives, works council institutions and business representatives from the financial services and manufacturing sector in Austria. This analysis has shown that significant differences and similarities between both approaches can be found.