Diversity & inclusion

Question 1

What are some types of teams?

Answer 1

• office team
• project team
• design team

Question 2

Give examples of team working you have demonstrated.

Answer 2

Working in project management required good team working skills to create a successful relationship with the design team, project team, and subcontractors to improve efficiency and performance. This includes utilising strengths and weaknesses, harnessing experience, and overcoming problems to deliver a successful project

Question 3

What is the Tuckman or Herzberg theory?

Answer 3

Theories on teamworking and motivational techniques

Question 4

What is workplace diversity?

Answer 4

Acceptance and inclusion of all employees whatever their background. It acknowledges their strengths and potential
* all are treated equally

Question 5

What are the advantages of a diverse team?

Answer 5

• increased productivity
• increased creativity
• improved cultural awareness
• a positive reputation

No one is left out and it allows all involved to contribute in a positive way

Question 6

What are inclusive environments?

Answer 6

• a culturally inclusive environment requires mutual respect, clear communication, understanding of expectations and self-reflection
• people of all cultural orientations are free to express who they are and their opinions

Question 7

Why are inclusive environments important?

Answer 7

• a diverse and inclusive team will perform at their best and feel part of the team
• performance will likely suffer if someone feels left out or ignored

Question 8

What legislation or regulations covers inclusive environments?

Answer 8

Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998

Question 9

What is your understanding of inclusion in the workplace?

Answer 9

Creating an environment and culture where all employees feel like they belong. They feel comfortable voicing opinions

Question 10

What is unconscious bias?

Answer 10

• Assumptions about someone based on their race, gender or disablility
• judgements made without conscious awareness based on stereotypes
• prevents diversity

Question 11

What are six elements for effective teamwork?

Answer 11

• Team identity
• Shared vision and team objectives
• Communication
• Collaboration and participation
• Issue negotiation and resolution
• Reflection and self-assessment.

Question 12

What is teamwork?

Answer 12

the combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient.

Question 13

What is a disadvantage of teamwork?

Answer 13

Team members can waste time and energy in disputes and some members may opt out of the process – ‘social loafing’ – leaving others to do all the work. This can occur particularly when people feel they are dispensable.

Question 14

Why is leadership important with teamwork?

Answer 14

The team leader is the person responsible for ensuring that members work effectively together to achieve their goal or objective and must facilitate the co-operation necessary for the team to perform well. The leader must also ensure that the team has the resources and information necessary to complete its task.

Question 15

What is collaborative working?

Answer 15

In construction, this means bringing together everyone involved in the delivery of a project so that they work in unison towards a common goal. When problems occur, people come together to find a solution rather than splitting up to look for their contract.

Question 16

What is an RACI matrix?

Answer 16

A RACI chart—also known as a responsibility assignment matrix—is a simple diagram used in project management to map task roles and responsibilities.

A RACI chart defines whether the people involved in a project activity will be Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, or Informed for the corresponding task, milestone, or decision.

Question 17

What is partnering?

Answer 17

Partnering promotes improved performance through collaborative business relationships based on best value rather than lowest cost. Contract awards are still subject to rigorous competition, but judged on pre-determined combinations of quality and cost.

Question 18

What are some benefits of partnering?

Answer 18

• Increased customer satisfaction
• Better value for the client
• Recognition and protection of profit margin for contractors and suppliers
• Staff development and satisfaction
• Creation of an environment that encourages innovation and technical development
• Better understanding between partners and driving down of real costs
• Design integration with specialists in the supply chain

Question 19

What Is a Strategic Alliance?

Answer 19

A strategic alliance is an arrangement between two companies to undertake a mutually beneficial project while each retains its independence

Question 20

How can diversity and inclusion be encouraged?

Answer 20

• company policies
• training and awareness
• diverse recruitment
• inclusive communication

Question 21

What is ISO 30415?

Answer 21

ISO 30415 is a guideline, which helps to develop an inclusive workplace requiring an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I), addressing inequalities in organizational systems, policies, processes and practices.

Question 22

What have RICS said on diversity and inclusion?

Answer 22

“Diversity and inclusion is a business imperative for attracting top talent into organisations. It is crucial that the built environment sector has a diverse and inclusive workforce that represents the global communities our profession supports and serve

Question 23

What are the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 23

• gender reassignment
• sex
• sexual orientation
• age
• disability
• race
• religion or belief
• marriage and partnership
• pregnancy and maternity.”

Question 24

What are key skills for effective teamworking?

Answer 24

• Listening - to other people’s ideas
• Discussing - team members to ask questions and interact
• Persuading - individuals to consider their positions
• Respect - treating team members with respect and support their ideas
• Helping - to encourage teamwork
• Sharing - information to create a positive team environment
• Participating - ensuring all team members get involved
• Communication - having effective communication skills to allow team members to work together
• Reflection - identifying strengths and weaknesses of team members and the team itself

Question 25

How could you improve your role within a team?

Answer 25

Through training and experience

Question 26

What is a common issue you have come across when working within a team?

Answer 26

Sometimes people will work to their own benefit and not for that of the team. For example, different managers covering different aspects of the site may only be interested in their own success and disregard how it affects others

Question 27

What is the difference between diversity and inclusion?

Answer 27

Diversity describes the variation in personal, physical, and social characteristics that exist, while inclusion refers to the procedures organizations implement to integrate everyone in the workplace.

Question 28

What policies does your company have and how do you comply with them?

Answer 28

My company policy is to provide equality, fairness, and respect for all encountered and to not unlawfully discriminate because of the Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics

Question 29

Explain what the RICS Inclusive Employer Quality Mark is.

Answer 29

The IEQM is the benchmark for inclusion and diversity in land, property and construction, and is based on 6 principles:
* leadership and vision;
* recruitment;
* staff retention;
* staff development;
* staff engagement;
* continuous improvement.

The mark is designed to change behaviour by encouraging all firms, large and small, to look carefully at their employment practices and put inclusivity at the heart of what they do.

Question 30

What is supply chain management?

Answer 30

Supply chain management in the construction industry is the relationship between the suppliers and the contractors involved in the overall project. This integrated approach is the foundation of success whereby all the stakeholders have a full understanding of the resources, logistics and the people involved to ensure the project and programme are delivered on time and budget.

Question 31

What legislation relates to selecting a project team?

Answer 31

Equality Act, Human Rights Act, CDM Regulations, H&SAWA

Question 32

Why is accountability and responsibility important when working in a team?

Answer 32

It can lead to an increase in commitment to work and employee morale, which leads to higher performance.

Question 33

What is Tuckman’s theory?

Answer 33

Five stages of team building
* forming - the stage where skills and backgrounds are discussed along with project goals and individual roles
* storming - the stage where members may disagree and fall out
* norming - This is the stage where things tend to settle down
* performing - The performing stage is where your team can hit its stride. Each team member understands everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and they are familiar enough with each other to help.
adjourning - When the project ends, the team will disband

Question 34

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 34

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory of motivation which states that five categories of human needs dictate an individual’s behavior. Those needs are physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs.

Question 35

What is Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE)?

Answer 35

EDGE Certification is an effective instrument for sustainable progress based on objective, measurable evidence of an organization’s current status and progress; with clear standards of performance that create transparency and accountability for change in relation to workplace gender and intersectional equity.

Question 36

What is neurodiversity?

Answer 36

“Neurodiversity” is a word used to explain the unique ways people’s brains work. While everyone’s brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person.

Question 37

How and why should neurodiversity be accommodated in the workplace?

Answer 37

By creating an inclusive environment and training it can help encourage neurodiversity. Different ways of thinking, learning, perceiving the world and interacting with others helps organizations thrive, as a workforce that includes people with a variety of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences can improve creativity, innovation and problem solving.

Question 38

What is the Memorandum of Understanding: Creating a More Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Built Environment Sector?

Answer 38

Key membership bodies in the built environment sector have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive forward the creation of a more diverse, equitable and inclusive sector - ensuring it is more representative of the society it serves.

The MoU brings together six organisations from across the sector: the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Landscape Institute (LI), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) – collectively representing around 350,000 members.

The agreement focuses on:

Data collection - To create a consistent approach and standard model that will allow meaningful comparison between and across respective memberships’, and help to formulate a clear picture of the built environment sector more widely.

Improve understanding of transition from education into employment - To develop a robust, evidence-based understanding of the disparity between the diversity of students that start on institute accredited courses and the talent that makes it into the workforce. To build on existing good practice from individual institutes to improve our collective understanding of retention rates and awarding gaps on accredited courses.

EDI competencies – To develop understanding and guidance for the sector, supporting organisations, individuals and institutes to improve and maintain professional standards.