With the ongoing battle to not only maintain scarce skills, but also create an optimal work environment, new platforms have been created to minimize workplace conflict and improve team performance.
The software development house, Global Kinetic, launched the TeamFirst platform with a special algorithm that has been tested and refined for six years. It is a cloud-based solution that uses anonymous data from people and their own teams about their experiences, relationships and outputs, combined with project KPI information, which is then analyzed by software.
“Using the terabytes of data produced in the organization, TeamFirst is able to isolate areas of potential conflict before they escalate. The product output, although useful for the HR department, is specifically designed for team leaders and project managers involved in the management of teams on a daily basis,” said Martin Dippenaar, Global CEO Kinetic.
After all, he said, these are the individuals responsible for ensuring delivery. “By identifying niggles before they become a problem, companies save hundreds of hours that would otherwise be spent on conciliation.”
More importantly, maintaining harmonious working conditions and avoiding conflict in the workplace is the most effective way to nurture a high-performing team without disruption and high staff turnover costs, he said.
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Conflict in the team
When teams experience conflict, they lose focus, Dippenaar explains. “Individuals find it difficult to work in a disharmonious environment and companies can spend hundreds of thousands of rands to replace team members who quit because of conflict.”
Added to the direct costs, the management time and focus required to resolve interpersonal issues quickly and can have real consequences for companies working to tight delivery deadlines, he said.
While calculating the cost of disputes is not an exact science, the UK public body that helps companies with conciliation and arbitration, Acas, published a report last year which estimated that workplace conflicts cost UK employers £28.5bn (R618.3bn) each. year. This amount averages out to just over £1 000 (R21 696) for each employee, per year.
TeamFirst’s algorithm can detect potential conflict points in real time and between six weeks and two months before humans. TeamFirst’s early intervention reduced software developer staff turnover by 50% in the first year.
Companies can now choose from three tiers: a free trial version for 60 days, a subscription-based model per seat or the TeamFirst Enterprise offering. The company is also currently working on some AI enhancements that will be available in a few months.
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Performance metrics
“Most companies implement some kind of performance metrics or measurements for individuals, but most do not have insight into how they work in teams. Even the best people put together in teams will have conflicts and insight into team dynamics is essential for consistent output and quality, as well as a clear view of the reality of work today.
Dippenaar said that post-pandemic businesses, especially those using hybrid or remote work, depend on measuring results based on team performance. “Using tools aimed at maximizing the effectiveness of these teams will help businesses achieve their goals and retain critical skills, which, in this economy, will be key to growth.”