Introduction to Industrial-Organizational Psychology

• These notes cover an introduction to Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology, its history, key concepts, and related fields

I/O Psychology

• A branch of psychology that applies psychological principles to the workplace
• According to Blum & Naylor, I/O Psychology addresses problems concerning humans in business and industry
• It provides solutions to employee-related issues

Industrial Psychology

• Focuses on organizational efficiency through the effective use of human resources
• Efficiency is achieved when employees have a direct impact on the company

Organizational Psychology

• Emphasizes understanding behavior and enhancing employee well-being in the workplace
• Creates a work environment where people can perform effectively
• Addresses employee motivation and job satisfaction, and what companies can do for employees

Fields of I/O Psychology

• Selection and Placement: Develops methods for employee selection, placement, and promotion
• Matches jobs with individuals' skills and interests

Selection

• Focuses on identifying candidates with the most suitable skills
• Uses methods like interviews, psychometric tests, and skill evaluations

Example - Concentrix Hiring

• Psychologists create assessments for communication skills and stress management to filter candidates before interviews

Placement

• Assigns employees to roles based on their performance, and identifies employee strengths and weaknesses

Example - Agent Reassignment

• Those who excel in data analysis are transferred to the data analysis team

Training and Development

• Identifies employee skills needing enhancement to improve job performance
• I/O psychologists design training programs to assess their effectiveness and refine skills

Organization Development

• Analyzes organizational structures to maximize satisfaction, effectiveness, and customer experience

Methods

• Understanding structure, processes, and culture to improve efficiency

Example - Customer Service Improvement

• A psychologist recommends a ticketing system to manage complaints and reduce queues

Performance Appraisal

• Establishes criteria/standards to evaluate employee job performance
• Includes tracking punctuality and addressing social loafing
• Employee scorecards are reviewed to assess performance against metrics

Quality of Worklife

• I/O Psychologists focus on factors contributing to a healthy, productive workforce
• Redesigning jobs to be more meaningful and satisfying

Ergonomics

• Concerned with designing compatible tools, equipment, and machines for human skills
• Ergonomic chairs reduce discomfort for office workers

Human factors

• Workplace design, human-machine interaction, ergonomics, and physical fatigue and stress are the focus
• These individuals work closely with engineers

Personnel Psychology

• Includes analyzing jobs, recruiting, selecting, salary determination, training, and performance evaluation

Example - HR Functions

• HR uses job analysis for detailed job descriptions

Example - Assigning Values

• Companies set salary ranges based on job analysis

Example - Performance

• Providing Reviews with constructive feedback, and rewards

History of I/O Psychology (Western)

• Walter Dill Scott (1900–1916)
• Bryan's 1904 article mistakenly used "industrial psychology" instead of "individual psychology"
• The term "industrial psychology" was first used in Bryan’s 1904 article, published two books
• Applied psychology principles to motivation and productivity
• Aimed to make the marketplace/workplace efficient by appealing to self-interest

Lilian Moller Gilbreth

• Known as "The First Lady of Management"
• Designed the layout of keys on a typewriter keyboard, invented scaffolding

Frank & Lilian Gilbreth

• Frank studied employee motions, while Lilian analyzed employee dedication
• They believed in finding optimal methods and tracking for process improvement
• Taylor was focused on cutting task time to boost production, while the Gilbreths prioritized reducing motions to improve work

Hugo Münsterberg

• His book, Psychology and Industrial Efficiency (1913), covered selecting workers, designing work situations, and psychology in sales
• He is the Founder of Industrial Psychology

World War I Contributions

• Robert Yerkes was instrumental in involving psychology in the war
• Army Alpha and Beta tests assess recruits' intelligence
• W.D. Scott's contributions, the classification of recruits based on skills

Examples of this were

• Matching mechanical skills to vehicle maintenance and evaluating officer performance

Between the Wars (1919–1940)

• Walter Bingham developed the Bureau of Salesmanship
• Psych in sales and marketing is no longer just army

James Cattell

• The corporation was created in 1921
• Sought to advance psychology and its usefulness in industry

Western Electric Company

• Conducted experiments at Hawthorne Works, beginning in 1924
• Joint venture with researchers from Harvard to study lighting and efficiency, workers job performance improved following the start of the researcher’s intervention
• Hawthorne Effect: Productivity increased due to observation, not illumination

World War II (1941–1945)

• Walter Bingham chaired a committee for classifying military personnel
• Developed the Army General Classification Test (AGCT) and methods for officer selection

Toward Specialization (1946–1963)

• Industrial Psychology became a legitimate field
• APA's Division of Industrial Psychology in 1946

Government Intervention (1964–1993)

• The "Civil Rights Movements" occurred in the late 1950's and early 1960's

Advancements

• “Project A” - The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) assisted in selecting and placing military personnel

Information Age (1994–Present)

• Electric communication revolutionized business
• Telecommuting and virtual teams changed the physical workplace

History of I/O Psychology (Philippines)

- Pre – Spanish Occupation

• Barter system: No formal organizational structures existed

Spanish Occupation

• Master-servant relationships were regulated by the Civil Code of Spain (1889)

American Occupation

• Unionism was introduced from America to protect worker's rights
• A shift towards, more focus on education

Japanese Occupation

• World War II disrupted education

Post War

• Government initiatives supported labor, social security, and manpower councils

Formation

• The Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) followed

Other key figures in Philippine I/O Psychology

• Mariano Obias, Fr. Jaime Bulatao, and Aurora Yambot

Explore the fundamentals of Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology, its history, and core concepts. Understand how it applies psychological principles to the workplace, focusing on efficiency and employee well-being. Learn about the key fields within I/O Psychology.