Future ofIndustrial / Organizational Psychology.

University Degree Business and Administrative studies

Future of Industrial/Organizational Psychology

By: Bethlyn Johnson

Industrial Psychology

11/24/03

Today’s world of work requires us to be open to change and diversity in the workplace. New opportunities will be available and Industrial Psychologists must be able to define and adapt to these changes. Industrial Psychologists have contributed to the betterment of the workplace for many years. In the future, Industrial Psychologists will have to overcome the challenges a new and changing work environment will bring. I/O Psychologists will prove to be important in the continuing advancement of work-societies.

Industrial Psychology began with the rapid movement of the Industrial Revolution. Companies were expanding and more labor was needed to keep up with the developments of modern industry. Problems arose with all of these new laborers entering the workforce. Industrial Psychologists focused on applying sound psychological theories and methods to behavior in the workplace. The early goal of I/O Psychologists was to make organizations more productive, and in turn, more profitable. Along with the “Principals of Scientific Management” imposed by Fredrick Winslow Taylor, came issues involving the individual laborer becoming changeable and expendable to the organization. This lead to many issues for workers including: no health insurance, safety standards, welfare systems, unemployment insurance, and few social support systems. Industrial Psychologists recognized these issues in the workplace and took steps to better the work environment. Marion Bills, the first female executive of the Aetna Corporation, focused on making the work environment a better place for women. She fought for equal wages, created support systems for single mothers, and changed hiring policies geared towards the individual. Bills brought to light the idea that employers need to recognize personality and values when hiring laborers. Martin Heidegger wrote the book “Being in Time”, which addressed the issue of work and self-identity. He explained that work gives us a sense of continuation into the future. We establish ourselves as being in the world by working and we become our projects. These, and many other, Industrial Psychologists increased understanding of interpersonal relationships in the workplace. They could apply such knowledge to the attainment of both individual and organizational goals. Work environments have changed and expanded since the beginning of Industrial Psychology, and I/O Psychologists were required to change with it. In the future, industry will continue to change and I/O Psychologists must come up with new ways to face these challenges.

This is a preview of the whole essay

According to Baron, fewer than one million employees worked away from the office via computer link ten years ago. This number has drastically increased to an estimated 11 million workers, and will continue to rise with the advancement of technology. Industrial Psychologist will be faced with concerns of balancing work and family, understanding new technology, and the disassociation with socialization from employees in a “virtual office”. Another challenge that faces I/O Psychologists in the future is the amount of flexible work schedules expected to increase. More and more people are choosing to balance their time between work and family differently. The typical 9-5 job is being replaced with more flexible schedules that cater to the needs of the individual. While this phenomenon is helpful to employees, it will create a new set of challenges for I/O Psychologists. It is harder for I/O Psychologists to study the effects of environment on an employee that works from their own home. It will also effect the hiring of individuals based more on their skills than personality. If an employee will never be associating with other employees, the personality of that employee becomes less important to the organization. Along with flexible schedules in the workplace comes the new phenomenon of emphasis on results rather than time at the office. “The old days of just showing up for work will be history; people will be evaluated on the results and not just the number of hours they spent on a task.” (Baron, pg. 34). This trend in the workplace will have Industrial Psychologists trying to figure out how to help people deal with this new outlook. Industrial Psychologists will always have to adapt to the new issues the future of industry will present the workforce.

From the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to today’s capitalist society, I/O Psychology has been there to help us along the way. Industrial Psychologists have been intrinsically intertwined with employees and the organizations they work for. Bettering the workplace for employees, and continuing to make important contributions for all of society. In the future Industrial Psychologists will face new challenges, but their reaction to these challenges is what will push society toward progression.

Reference:

Baron, R.A., Paulus, P.B., & Seta, C.E. (2000) Effective Human Relations: A guide to people at work. Neeham Heights, MA: Pearson Education Company.