Diversity, inclusion and teamworking

Question 1

What is Equality Act 2010?

Answer 1

• The Equality Act 2010 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom with primary purpose to legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society that formed the basis of anti-discrimination law in Great Britain.
• It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations. It sets out the different ways in which it’s unlawful to treat someone.

• Before the Act came into force there were several pieces of legislation to cover discrimination, including:
o Sex Discrimination Act 1975
o Race Relations Act 1976
o Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Question 2

What is Equality?

Answer 2

the right of different groups of people to have a similar social position and receive the same treatment.

Question 3

What is diversity?

Answer 3

the fact of many different types of things or people being included in something; a range of different things or people

Question 4

What is inclusion?

Answer 4

is an organisational effort and practices in which different groups or individuals having different backgrounds are culturally and socially accepted and welcomed, and equally treated

Question 5

What is bias?

Answer 5

Bias is a prejudice in favour of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another usually in a way that’s considered to be unfair. Biases may be held by an individual, group, or institution and can have negative or positive consequences.

Question 6

What is conscious bias?

Answer 6

Biased attitudes about a group we are aware of; can be (in)visible; can be accessed.

Question 7

What is unconsious bias?

Answer 7

Biased attitude operating outside your awareness and control, are difficult to access or be aware of, & influence your action more than conscious biases.

Fo exmple sterotypes.

Question 8

How are team members selected or appointed in your field of
work?

Answer 8

For the Project - Initially member are proosed by the BIM team based on experiance and relevance to the role and scope of work required

Company recuriment - based on skills and experiance required to do the job.

Question 9

Can you outline the importance of diversity within a team?

Answer 9

• Having a diverse and multicultural team creates inclusive and socially equal place to work for everyone regardless of their background, age, gender, etc.
• From the business perspective diversity within the team provide better selection of different talent and skills, creates innovation and generally wider a company access to candidates.

Question 10

How can the communication processes within a team impact on
its success?

Answer 10

• builds a good team
• helps successful project delivery and hence supports business fiancé and customers relations
• good customer management and relation
• set clear goals and expectation

Question 11

What legislation are you aware of that would impact on diversity
and inclusion?

Answer 11

• The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
• The Human Rights Act 1998 sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that everyone in the UK is entitled to. It incorporates the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into domestic British law. The Human Rights Act came into force in the UK in October 2000.

Question 12

One of your colleagues is not seen to be pulling his/her weight in
the work place, what would you do?

Answer 12

• talk to them directly to understand if there is any issues that they are dealing with
• Depending on the outcome I would talk to my line manager to make them aware of the issue

Question 13

What are the characteristics of an effective team?

Answer 13

Trust
Communication
Cooperation
Respect

Question 14

What are the difficulties of achieving high performing teams in the construction industry?

Answer 14

 Projects last several years making personnel change inevitable.
 Different engagements required at each stage.
 Lack of trust between client and contractor.

To overcome this I:

 Understand people’s motives
 Setting of short term goals.
 Holding regular team building events even if it is just drinks in a pub after a meeting.

Question 15

How would you go about recruitment for your team?

Answer 15

• Firstly, I would identify the skill gaps, and the level of competency and skill required to fill the gaps.
• I would then look internally, to see if there was an appropriate individual within the team already.
• If not, I would advertise the position.

Question 16

What were the Latham Report Recommendations?

Answer 16

In 1994 the Latham Report ‘Constructing the Team’ was published. The report was commissioned by the UK government to investigate the perceived problems with the construction industry, which the report’s author, Sir Michael Latham described as ‘ineffective’, ‘adversarial’, ‘fragmented’ and ‘incapable of delivering for its customers’.

• That the Government should become a best practice client.
• That the NEC suite of contracts be adopted to improve a less adversarial approach.
• Encouraged Partnering between companies and organisations.
• Risk should be allocated to the party best able to handle it.

Question 17

What needs to be done for effective meeting?

Answer 17

• Agenda
• Brief attendees on their actions from last time
• Timely invitation
• Minute everything adequately
• Make sure agendas do not overrun

Question 18

If a member of your team was disruptive in a meeting how would you deal with it?

Answer 18

• Analyse the situation
• Speak to person and consider reasons for disruption
• If no reason and no progress speak to their manager to try and get resolved

Question 19

How would you positively motivate your team members?

Answer 19

• Team building exercises
• Make sure their voice is heard
• Provide additional support if they need extra resources
• Clear communication and brief.

Question 20

Benefits of a diverse team?

Answer 20

Different ideas and views
Different approaches

Question 21

What do you understand by inclusive environments?

Answer 21

A culturally inclusive environment requires mutual respect of different genres, cultures, race, background, sex, orientation etc