IndustrialOrganizational Psychology

1
Industrial/Organizational Psychology

• The study of human behavior in work settings.
• We apply what we know about learning, memory,
  individual performance, group interactions and
  apply them within work settings.
• We are very interested in the people within the
  organizations and use research and stats to
  better understand the workplace.
• I/O psychology is an applied psychology.
• I/O psychologists are not counselors in
  organizations

2
The influence of organizational psychology

• Would you keep working if you won the lottery?
  Were independently wealthy?
• What do we gain from work?
• What we have learned about I/O psychology will
  influence you and your job all the way from your
  selection interview to your retirement dinner.

3
Background influences on I/O psychology

• Productivity focus
• Munsterberg-1st I/O text
• Cattell-mental testing
• Principles of Scientific Management
• Hawthorne studies- Human Relations Movement
• Emotional and motivation needs
• After WWII, boom time for industry
• Standardization in airplane cockpits
• testing
• Civil Rights Act 1964
• Due to increased testing, concern for fair hiring
• SIOP founded in 1982

4
I/O has come along way, but far enough?
5
Modern day I/O

• Expanded from industrial focus- focus on whole
  person (diversity)
• Recognition that mental ability is only one
  important characteristic
• Expansion beyond productivity to other important
  factors
• Study of teams, groups and cultures not just
  individuals

6
Organizations are open systems

• emphasizes relationship between organization and
  supporting environment
• movement in one part leads to movement in another
  part
• organizations are continually in a state of flux
• human effort and motivation are most critical
  sources for maintenance

7
Some aspects of environment...

• Competition
• Customers (needs, demands, loyalty)
• Events that affect business
• Employees (characteristics, needs, etc)
• Knowledge
• Change (pace, controllability)

8
Culture is an important aspect of the environment

• Hofstedes Theory
• Individiualism/collectivism
• Power Distance
• Uncertainty avoidance
• Masculinity/Feminity
• Long term vs. short term orientation

9
Group Exercise Starbucks

• Using Starbucks as an example of a successful
  organization, answer the following questions
• 1) Brainstorm ideas about what has made
  Starbucks successful.
• 2) What 3 environmental influences would be
  important for Starbucks (as an open system?) to
  consider in the United States?
• 3) If you were CEO and expanding to a country in
  Europe, what would you need to consider?
  (consider Hostedes theory)