IndustrialOrganizational Psychology as a Profession

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Industrial/Organizational Psychology as a
Profession

• Leslie W. Joyce, Ph.D.
• VP and Chief Learning Officer
• The Home Depot

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The Home Depot

• 13th largest company in US, Atlanta based
• 320,000 Associates, 2000 locations, 3 countries
• 100,000 -180,000 square feet
• 35,000 skus per store
• 200-450 associates
• Every 48 hours a new store

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Have You Ever Wondered..

• How companies decide what jobs need to be done?
• How people get hired in to companies?
• How companies make sure that the people who get
  hired are the right ones?
• How companies make sure they have the right
  knowledge, skills and abilities?
• How companies retain good employees?
• How companies know how their employees feel about
  the company?
• How companies make sure they have the right
  structures and organizations?
• How companies keep up with all the changes that
  must be made?
• How do they make the right changes?
• How companies decide when and who to lay off and
  how to do it best?
• How companies motivate an inspire high
  performance from their employees?
• How people in companies get promoted?
• How companies ensure that there are enough of the
  right people to fill all the leadership roles it?
• How companies ensure that their leaders are good
  leaders?
• How do companies ensure people can work together
  in teams effectively?
• How companies ensure a global perspective?
• How do companies make sure their company culture
  is what they want it to be?
• How do companies make sure their company is one
  that people want to work for?

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So how did I end up here?

• Education
• BA English and Psychology
• MS Psychology and Industrial Engineering
• PhD Industrial Psychology

• Experience
• Benefits Analyst
• Usability Consultant
• Mgmt. Dev. Spec.
• Leadership Trainer
• HR Manager
• Global OE Consultant
• Dir. Org Effectiveness
• VP Learning

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Why I/O?

• The top majors
• Architecture
• Computer Science
• Business Administration
• Accounting

• My strengths
• English Literature
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Political Science

My path Sociology ? Psychology ? Child
Psychology ? Counseling ? Business ? I/O (the
best of both worlds)
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Graduate Training

• To PhD or not to Ph.D.
• Its long and its hard
• Do it for yourself, not for the money
• If you start finish
• ABD is not a Ph.D.
• Ph.D.s are not just for academia
• If you want to be at the top of the ladder, a
  Ph.D. is competitive advantage

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My Personal Experience

• Undergrad 3.5 years
• MS - 3 years
• Ph.D. 5.5 years
• Total 12 years!!
• I worked full time
• I finished my coursework in 4 years, it took 4
  years to pass Prelims and defend Dissertation

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The Job

• Topics
• The Learning Strategy for 320,000 people
• How to Cut Chain
• How to Lead a Multi-Billion Dollar business
• People is the hardest element to imitate
• The CEO
• The EVP
• Our Associates

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I/O in 2015

• Organization Effectiveness
• Selection and Assessment
• Leadership Development
• Expatriate Development
• Global Company Cultures
• Organization Design
• This is a great time to be in this field and it
  will only get better.