Understanding Bias and Its Role in Condominium Governance
Diversity in condominium communities means managing a wide range of residents, board members, and stakeholders with different cultural, economic, and personal backgrounds. Ensuring inclusive and fair governance requires condominium managers to recognize and challenge their own biases and support the board in doing the same.
Key Concepts in Diversity and Bias:
Unconscious Bias in Decision-Making:
Board members and managers may unknowingly favor certain viewpoints or dismiss others based on personal experiences.
This can affect vendor selection, owner concerns, and rule enforcement within the condominium corporation.
Impact on Owner Relations and Governance:
If biases influence governance, unit owners may feel excluded from decision-making.
Lack of inclusivity can lead to board-member conflicts, legal disputes, and owner dissatisfaction.
Legal Requirements for Fair Governance:
The Condominium Property Act (CPA) and Real Estate Act Rules outline the responsibilities of boards and managers in ensuring fair and transparent governance.
The Condominium Property Act Regulation requires condominium corporations to ensure that governance decisions are fair, transparent, and free from discrimination.
Recognizing and Addressing Bias in Governance
A condominium manager plays a crucial role in identifying and mitigating biases that may impact decision-making.
Techniques for Bias Awareness and Correction:
Self-Assessment of Biases:
Encourage board members and managers to reflect on how they make decisions and whose perspectives are considered.
Example: Does the board tend to dismiss owner concerns about accessibility issues due to personal views on property aesthetics?
Encouraging Diverse Perspectives in Board Discussions:
Ensure that all owners have equal opportunities to participate in decision-making processes.
Promote open forums, surveys, and meetings that allow residents to voice concerns before decisions are finalized.
Fair and Consistent Rule Enforcement:
Rules and policies should apply equally to all unit owners, regardless of their background or personal relationships with board members.
Example: If noise complaints are enforced more strictly against some owners than others, it could indicate bias in enforcement.
Challenging Groupthink in Board Decision-Making:
Board members may feel pressured to agree with the majority, even if alternative viewpoints are valid.
Managers can facilitate balanced discussions by ensuring that opposing viewpoints are acknowledged and discussed.
Best Practices for Fostering Inclusivity
Encourage Education and Awareness:
Provide diversity training for board members to increase awareness of biases in governance.
Promote an understanding of cultural considerations and accessibility needs in condominium communities.
Develop Transparent Decision-Making Processes:
Ensure that board discussions and decisions are well-documented and justified based on governance principles.
Implement a decision-making checklist that considers diverse viewpoints and community needs.
Strengthen Owner Engagement Strategies:
Regularly survey owners about their concerns and ensure their input is factored into decisions.
Use multiple communication methods (emails, town halls, online portals) to ensure broad accessibility.
Bias Identification and Resolution
Scenario:
A board is discussing a renovation project that will significantly impact accessibility for some residents. However, the conversation is dominated by board members who dismiss accessibility concerns as “not a priority.”
Task:
Identify the biases at play in this decision.
Propose strategies a condominium manager can use to encourage a fair discussion.
Develop a written response to the board, explaining the importance of inclusive decision-making and compliance with the CPA.
