Importance Of Groups And Teams In The Organization - Case Study Analysis

Discuss about the Case Study – Diversity and Inclusion at Red Telecom.

Case study analysis

It is important for every organisation to ensure that teams and groups are maintained for better and efficient work. As stated by Malekoff (2015) groups and teams are important for the development of trust among the people. The report focuses on the importance of groups and the manner in which it can help an organisation to continue its development in the market. The report takes into account the analysis of a case study, which describes the functioning of groups and the application of theories to provide a Human Resource intervention and competencies related to the job roles that need to be performed by the people. At the same time, the report provides a learning and development plan for the organisation described in the case study taking into consideration a period of 12 months for the development and implementation of the plan. Details about the case study have also been provided.

Red Telecom is a multinational enterprise in the telecommunication service sector. The majority area in which the company operates is in the area covering the Oceania that includes Australia and New Zealand. The aim of the company is to improve the outcome and services for a range of stakeholders. The development of an initiative titled the Red’s Inclusive Strategy 2020 had set about a few workforce targets for the development of the organisation. This includes the increase in the diversity of the organisation in terms of improvement within the organisation. The major problem that has been seen form the case is that the launching of the new strategy has led to mixed reviews from people. 

The manager intends to develop a training and development program that can help in attaining certain aims of the organisation. These aims include an improvement in the diversity climate of the organisation, engaging more women population, increase of people with disability and identification and support of talented employees. These training needs are required so that team members do not find the new strategy as politically corrected or include quotas. At the same time the complexity as well as the frequency of changes that are maintained in the organisation provides the team members with doubt over the functioning of the organisation.

It has been evidenced from the case study that the Human Resource team of Red had conducted a number of Training Needs Analysis so that Customer Resolution Department can be used to identify the learning and development requirements needed for conducting the research. The outline of the trainee group and the expanded team leader within the organisation has been evidenced as central for the implementation of the goals made by the Red’s. Therefore, several observations can be made that helps in analysing the results from the Training Needs. These observations can be analysed by the application of appropriate theories related to managing of teams.

Theories related to managing of teams

In order to understand the theories related to groups and teams. It is necessary to understand the manner in which groups and teams function and the responsibilities that need to be given to the members. According to Galegher, Kraut and Egido (2014), it is essential that teams and groups be provided with responsibilities that can help in the development of the individual as well as the teams. Hence, the application of theories related to teams such as Belbin’s group theory can be made so that each team member can be provided with the responsibility required for success in the organisation. 

As stated by Sarsons (2017) Belbin’s team dynamics identifies about nine types of responsibilities that can be provided to team members so that they can bring about success. In the case of Red Telecom, the application of Belbin’s team dynamics model can help the organisation to fulfil the aim of the Human Resource Department in trying to cope up with the proper development of the team and to build trust among one another. Moreover, the team development and the concerns of the individuals also needed to be taken into account to understand the team dynamics that exist in the organisation. Therefore, an analysis can be made that can help in understanding the observations made during the training needs analysis.

It has been evidence from the case study that after the conclusion of the training needs provided to the team members, certain issues were discovered. These issues mainly resulted in the complaints made by the team members and it is the duty of the Human Resource Department of Red to come up with solutions so that the issues can be addressed in a proper manner. It has been evidenced from the case that several team members had complained that information or support from team leaders were not received while handling difficult clients. This led to a sense of de-motivation among the people and long-term goals with the organisation were jeopardised.

Drumm (2014) is of the opinion that motivation is one of the important attributes that need to be provided to the employees so that they can continue to work in a fruitful manner in the organisations. In this case, the team members were concerned about the poor performance that may limit their progress within the organisation. At the same time team members performing better in the organisations were also affected as appreciation for their efforts them were being shifted due to the overall poor performance of the team.

Observations made during the training needs analysis

Therefore, it can be said that negative attitude about working in the organisation existed among the team members. According to Baines, Blatchford and Webster (2015), it is important that a team be composed of diverse people of both gender as well as of different ethnicity. This can provide stability in the team and provide it with a balance to improve the future prospects. However, in the case of Red Telecom, the company had received complaints about the imbalance between the genders of the team members. This led to concern among some female members while approaching the team leaders despite having difficulty.

According to Becker (2014), the health and safety of the group members is also an important consideration that needs to be taken by the managers. For this the manager need to design work places and equipments that can ensure the development of safety of the people. However, in the case of Red Telecom, the team members were concerned about the poorly designed workstations and the work environment that existed in the company. Most people did not have experience in working with disable people and therefore, training was needed so that adjustment can be made at the work place. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a human resource intervention that can help in the application of relevant theories at the organisation. 

In order to ensure that Red Telecom functions in a proper manner with the application of team management, it is necessary that the Human Resource Department of Red Telecom develop and implement proper human resource policies. The analysis can include identifying one complaint at a time made by the employees. For example, in the case of the support from the team leaders, it is necessary that the Human Resource Management of Red Telecom provide the leaders with proper policies related to the rules and regulations of the organisation and the responsibilities of the leaders. The leaders need to lead from the front so that they can inspire the employees to work in a proper manner (Greif & Knight, 2016).

At the same time, it is also necessary that the health and safety of the employee be also maintained. It has been evidence from the case study analysis that the workplace consists of poorly designed workstations that may hinder the progress of the organisation as well as bring about injury of the employees. In this case, the Human Resource Management of the organisation need to take into account the work environment that exists. This also includes ensuring that no discrimination takes place between genders or with people that are disabled.

Human resource intervention

Dobao (2014) is of the opinion that motivation is necessary so that the employees can be retained in an organisation. Therefore, appreciation of the employees and the efforts need to be provided. In this case, it is necessary that the Human Resource Department of Red Telecom provide its employees with the support needed for forming a successful team. The employees that perform well in the organisation need to be rewarded so that they can be motivated. At the same time, it can help the underperforming employees to work hard and reach the organisational goals. Hence, such intervention techniques can provide Red Telecom with an opportunity to train and develop the employees within a group so that effective development of the long-term goals of the organisation can be reached. The competencies of the intervention related to the job roles provided to the employees also can be analysed. 

The competencies that can be related with the group members and the job role include an analysis of the organisational context and the theories that are related with the application of group dynamics. Levi (2015) is of the opinion that it is necessary that the competencies of the group match with the job that are assigned to the members so that they can be compatible in the organisation. In the case of Red Telecom, it is necessary that gender equality be prevailed in the organisation so that balance of the team can be maintained and equal opportunities can be provided to people of all genders within the group.

At the same time it is also necessary that formal and informal manner of working be developed at the workplace so that Red Telecom can provide the employees with an opportunity to understand the importance of the formation of teams. The intervention suggested by the Human Resource Management need to provide an effective planning so that the employees can be motivated to work in the team. The application of Belbin’s theory can provide an analysis of the responsibilities that need to be undertaken by the employees so that the team can function in a proper manner and at the same time ensure that organisational and personal objectives be attained.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that the application of relevant theories related to team management can help in the development of groups in an organisation. In the case of Red Telecom, it is essential that the aims of the managers be taken into account so that proper development of the team can take place. The development of gender equality as well as providing training about working with disable candidates can be provided so that the organisation can continue its development of the teams. Therefore, it can be said the human resource intervention of the organisation can help in the development of the team. 

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