Securing Clients' Success in IT Projects with Psychometric Tools

Implementing new technologies often brings challenges and tensions. These highlight people's crucial roles and interactions in determining the project's success.

At Hycom, an IT company, the psychometric tools FRIS® and FACET5 are fundamental. They enhance collaboration and build effective relationships within and across teams, as well as with clients. For more than three years, these tools enabled us to understand team dynamics and client engagement better, leading to improved communication, efficiency, and overall satisfaction among all project participants.

We have experienced that the right level of cognitive diversity stimulates rapid learning and improves performance, particularly in the case of novel, uncertain, and complex scenarios typical of IT projects.

Benefits for clients and employees

Leveraging cognitive diversity has a direct impact on client collaboration, especially in the complex and interdisciplinary nature of IT projects. Our deep understanding of it allows for better communication and alignment of work methods, crucial for project success. Recognizing and embracing diverse perspectives enriches client relationships, eliminates tensions and fosters lasting effectiveness.

Cognitive diversity positively influences organizations in several ways. Firstly, it encourages the exploration of a wide range of ideas and strategies, incorporating insights from individuals with diverse perspectives. Secondly, it reflects the varied cognitive approaches within the employee base, leading to more effective initiatives and problem-solving.

Businesses that embrace cognitive diversity tend to demonstrate superior performance and productivity. This is achieved by fostering a workplace environment where psychological safety is prioritized, enabling employees to freely express themselves and contribute to the organization's success.

... As a Scrum Master, I initiated the FRIS ® session for the team, that I'm working with. It was an opportunity for the team members to talk freely about their perceptions of each other. Moreover (and it's the most important thing for me in FRIS ®) we could talk about how and why everyone thinks and acts, which shows us the differences between us and helps us understand that we can't expect everyone to perceive the world as we do...

Kacper Dynowski

At Hycom we Integrate cognitive diversity and reduce silos by better mutual understanding and communication, which is key in the FRIS and FACET5 methodology.

Our examples

FRIS-based Integration Workshops
Organizing workshops based on FRIS® methodology helps teams better benefit from the diversity in thinking and communication styles, facilitating mutual adaptation and cooperation.
Cross-functional Teams 
Creating project teams composed of employees from different departments who represent various action styles. Working in such a team helps break down silos by promoting collaboration between departments and utilizing unique perspectives to solve problems.
Regular cross-team Meetings
Organizing regular meetings between different teams to discuss current projects, challenges, and successes. These meetings can take the form of presentations, workshops, or brainstorming sessions and should encourage open communication and idea sharing.
Building Common Goals and Values
Setting goals that require collaboration between different teams can help minimize silos. These goals must be linked to the organization's larger mission, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and belonging.

Implementing FRIS® and FACET5 at Hycom

Individual Sessions for Employees

Begin with individual sessions where employees explore their cognitive predispositions. We care that everyone joining our company is invited to the assessment. 
This initial experience with diverse cognitive perspectives allows for self-observation and understanding of how personal preferences affect team collaboration. 
Each team member gains insights into their thinking and action styles, supplemented with information on other styles from our internal knowledge base.

Team sessions

Observe team interactions to understand how different FRIS® profiles influence group dynamics. 
Team sessions focus on specific goals, such as enhancing communication or engagement.
Identify strengths, potential risks, and develop coping strategies based on observed interactions.

Leadership Sessions

Provide leaders with insights into their cognitive predispositions and how they influence team dynamics.
Empower leaders to foster an environment where cognitive diversity is valued and experimentation with different approaches is encouraged.
Develop strategies to effectively leverage this diversity to achieve desired goals.

.... gave me a huge spectrum of what FRIS ® is all about and what is more, how accurate it is. By understanding different styles of thinking I can approach and collaborate with others more efficiently ...

Natalia Eastwood

Using FRIS® at Hycom has brought tangible benefits, both internally and in client relations. Key aspects include:

01.

A better understanding of personal predispositions and needs leads to more conscious relationship-building and effective problem-solving.

02.

Enhanced communication efficiency by recognizing and adapting to different communication styles.

03.

Strengthened teams through a better understanding of diversity as a source of strength.

04.

Building lasting client relationships based on a deep understanding of differences and needs, resulting in improved collaboration and trust.

According to Kamil Karasiński, a Consulting Expert at Hycom, the team values psychometric tools for providing a clear picture of thinking and behavior diversity and instructions for communicating with people of vastly different worldviews. This positively influences project team communication, including with client-side individuals.

In summary, Hycom's integration of psychometric tools like FRIS® significantly enhances team performance and client relations by embracing cognitive diversity.

The approach not only improves communication and problem-solving within teams but also fosters robust, trusting relationships with clients. As a result, the company experiences better project outcomes and a more satisfied workforce, illustrating the profound impact of psychological safety and diverse thought in the IT industry.