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• Gillian Smith and Pat Yates

Gillian Smith and Pat Yates

Gillian Smith and Pat Yates are full-time lecturers at the University College Birmingham: an internationally-renowned, specialist institution providing BA, BSc and Foundation Degree courses and Postgraduate Degrees.

Gillian Smith, MA, Cert. Ed, Dip.Mgmt

My interest in Team Role theory developed when I was studying for an MA in Management and Human Resource Development, undertaking an action research project into the impact of my leadership style on the teams that I managed, together with research at St. Basil’s, Birmingham, evaluating their management training programme.

Since 1998, I have been working in further and higher education and during this time have designed a range of modules for undergraduate students that include: human resource management, reflective practice and Team Role theory with specific application of the Belbin Self-Perception Inventory.

I am currently undertaking an investigation to determine whether the use of the Belbin Self-Perception Inventory can raise the performance of HE students working in groups. The rationale is in support of the University Mission to enable students to complete with advantage in their industry sector.

Pat Yates, MCIPD, NEBSM, PG Cert Ed (Business Studies)

With a range of experience working in the private and public sector, including consultancy work advising on operational/HRM issues and staff development for Hospitality, Leisure and Youth Services, I joined HE in 1991. Upon joining the University College Birmingham I had responsibility for the design, writing and development of a range of HR- and management-related modules, ranging from operational to strategic issues.

My specific interest in transferable skills was first developed whilst undertaking a pilot study with a colleague to explore implementing key skills/transferable skills in higher education. The key driver for the development of key skills/transferable skills is to ensure that our students meet the needs of the industry sectors which we serve and the university mission statement. My colleague and I published a paper outlining the results of the findings: (2001) “Key Skills: A Realistic Response”, Journal for FE Lifelong Learning, Volume 4, Number 2.

More recently, in 2006, I was invited to become member of a steering team to examine ‘Cross School HE Group Work’ where one of the objectives was to develop students’ ability to work more effectively in teams. As group work within HR-related modules had taken place for some time, drawing upon Team Role theory with specific application to the Get Set SPI, a natural progression was to undertake research into its wider applicability within higher education.