Driving Cultural Change and Boosting Productivity: A Tailored Solution for an IT Firm
Problem:
An IT firm was experiencing low productivity, and although the HR team sensed that employee motivation was low, employees were not opening up about the root causes. There was a disconnect between management and employees, which prevented any real understanding of the underlying issues. In an effort to uncover these hidden challenges, the organisation brought in Viridian DEI Consulting as external consultants to conduct a thorough assessment.
Method:
As external consultants, we began by designing a multi-step approach to gather insights from employees in a safe environment. We conducted an employee survey, followed by focus group interviews to further explore themes and one-on-one interviews for a deeper dive into individual experiences. This approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of the workplace dynamics and encouraged open and honest feedback from employees.
Findings:
Through our assessment, we identified key issues across several teams, including challenges related to management flexibility and openness to new ideas. These issues had a direct impact on team innovation and overall morale as employees were discouraged from contributing fully.
Additionally, our findings revealed that women in particular struggled to blend into some teams. The managers often failed to understand the different requirements of women, especially as many of them were the only or one of the few women in predominantly male teams. This lack of understanding contributed to feelings of psychological unsafety, further alienating them from the decision-making process and limiting their contributions.
Solution:
After identifying these root causes, we provided the organisation with tailored recommendations. These included fostering a more flexible management approach, implementing training programs for managers to encourage open communication and creating a culture of psychological safety where new ideas and feedback were welcomed. Special emphasis was placed on addressing gender dynamics within teams, helping managers become more attuned to the diverse needs of their team members, particularly women.
We also developed an actionable plan to support the long-term implementation of these changes, aiming to boost employee engagement and productivity while ensuring a more inclusive environment for all employees.
This structured approach not only revealed critical insights but laid the foundation for meaningful change in the organisation’s culture.
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