Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the differential effect of workforce diversity on employee productivity and its subsequent impact on customer experience. Research design, data and methodology: A once-off cross-sectional research design was used in this study where the Zimbabwean civil service was targeted. Randomization was used to collect 324 validated responses. The study focused on both primary (age and gender) and secondary (education and political affiliation) dimensions of workforce diversity. Results: The results were confirmatory that workforce diversity is a significant predictor of employee productivity (β = 0.668, P < 0.05), at the same time employee productivity holds explanation to customer experience by 37%. Results also revealed that gender diversity, educational diversity and political diversity were significant determinants of workforce diversity (P < 0.05). However, the study established that age diversity was not a significant factor in enhancing employee productivity (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The study concluded that workforce diversity is a powerful tool in enhancing both customer experience and employee productivity. As such, the latter can be augmented through shrewd workforce diversity practices as championed by management. To that end, the study recommends the development of a workforce diversity framework which promotes inclusivity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors that enhance the effectiveness of bulk text message advertising on consumer attention in the telecommunications industry in Zimbabwe. Research design, data and methodology: The study collected data using structured questionnaires. The study attracted 293 responses from consumer subscribers of the Zimbabwean telecommunications industry. Data was analysed using SPSS and measures of association, direction, strength and significance were used. Results: The study found out that the examined variables of bulk text messaging (Simplicity, Frequency and Informativeness) had a positive significant impact on consumers‟ attention (𝛽= 0.645; p-value < 0.05). The study examined four bulk text advertising determinants, namely frequency, simplicity, informativeness and credibility. Only credibility was found to be statistically insignificant (p-value > 0.05), whilst frequency had an inverse effect on consumer attention. Simplicity of bulk text advertisements recorded a high positive and significant impact whilst informativeness was also positively, and significantly affecting consumer attention. Conclusions: The study concluded that for bulk text advertising to be effective, text messages should be informative, easy to understand and dispatched less frequently. It was further concluded that bulk text advertising should follow permission marketing where consumers consent before hand to be recipients of commercials.