Teamwork , Diversity and Inclusion

Question 1

What are key ways to improve collaboration in a team?

Answer 1

• Establish team goals
• Communicate expectations
• Encourage cohesion between team members
• Leverage team member’s strengths
• Recognise and encourage collaborative behaviour
• Give Feedback

Question 2

Why would it be beneficial to have a greater diversity in the industry?

Answer 2

• Greater talent pool
• Increased innovation
• Benefits reputation
• Different types of thinking

Question 3

What are the RICS doing to encourage diversity?

Answer 3

• RICS launched the Inclusive Employer Quality Mark (IEQM) for firms to sign up to
• Achieved gender parity on the Global Executive Team
• Setup diversity working groups e.g. LGBT+

Question 4

What is unconscious bias?

Answer 4

It is someone might have a preconceived prejudice about a group of people without of the individual being aware of it.

It is a social stereotype about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness

Can also be described as implicit bias

Question 5

How can you prevent unconcious bias?

Answer 5

Training to make people aware of their own biases to help manage them

Question 6

What are responsibility matrix benefits?

Answer 6

• As the responsibilities and hierarchies are clearly defined then it’s easier for team members to deliver speak and collaborate with the more appropriate people

Question 7

What is an example of team structure?

Answer 7

• Belbin’s theory
• Understand each team members strengths and weaknesses that can affect the productivity of a team.
• For example, if you have people in a team that have the same strengths, the team might not be as productive as they might compete for the same tasks

Question 8

How does a clear team structure benefit leadership?

Answer 8

If the team works productively and delivers on its outcomes the leader is in a better position to make decisions that will benefit the team

Question 9

Types of unconscious bias?

Answer 9

• Name bias
• Weight bias
• Beaty bias
• Gender bias

Question 10

What is the Equality Act?

Answer 10

• Legislation that makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone on the ground of different set of characteristics like religion sex, sexual orientation, age, disability

Question 11

What are the benefits of diverse working?

Answer 11

• Different ideas & new ways of thinking
• Innovative
• Wider range of skills
• Increased productivity

Question 12

What is inclusion?

Answer 12

• Place where individuals are treated fairly and respectfully with equal access to opportunities and resources

Question 13

What is meant by Teamwork?

Answer 13

• When a group of individuals work collaboratively for a common goal

Question 14

What makes a good/effective team?

Answer 14

• Sense of purpose
• Clear understanding of team objectives
• Resources to achieve objectives
• Mutual trust
• Range of skills amongst team members

Question 15

How do you improve team dynamics?

Answer 15

• Understand what motivates them
• Define roles and responsibilities
• Tackle problems quickly with positive feedback
• Clear communication

Question 16

What different types of teams are you aware of?

Answer 16

• Production and service teams: construction is a good example of where you will find production teams. They have a relatively long life-span, providing an ongoing product or service to customers or the organisation.
• Action and negotiation teams: like legal teams, consist of people who tend to work together regularly.
• Project and development teams: including research and product development teams. They are dedicated to a particular objective and have limited life-spans and a clear set of short-term objectives.
• Self-Managed Teams – they don’t have a manager or a leader
• Leadership teams – skilled individuals used to develop better and strategies for better working

Question 17

What does Skanska’s ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ policy include?

Answer 17

• Never make comments, or take actions, that could be perceived as discriminatory, harassing, victimizing, bullying, or disrespectful even if they are not made with that intention
• Respectfully challenge colleagues and other people at work, whose behaviour could be seen as unwelcome or unacceptable, whether to themselves or to someone else
• Plan highlights working environment can be adjusted into diversity inclusion and gender
• Make possible career progression with parenthood.
• Increase diversity of recruitment throughout the company

Question 18

Why is it important to respect and value people’s differences and treat them appropriately?

Answer 18

• Make it a comfortable place to work
• Reduce workplace stress, conflict, and problems
• Increase productivity, knowledge and understanding.
 

Question 19

What should a leader do?

Answer 19

• Listen to team members
• Question them to understand their points of view
• Be responsive to feedback

Question 20

What is requirement when selecting team members?

Answer 20

• Range of necessary technical and specialist skills.
• Personal styles among members to fill the different roles that are involved in successful teamwork. (belbin’s team theory)

Question 21

What are benefits of teamworking?

Answer 21

• Improve productivity
• Improve quality
• Improve customer focus
• Speed the spread of ideas
• Increase employee motivation

Question 22

How do you deal with someone with an inexperienced team member?

Answer 22

• Come up with a plan to improve areas of weakness
• Provide motivation
• Give constructive feedback
• Provide support