Industrial-Organizational Psychology
What is Industrial-Organizational Psychology?
Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology is the research and application
of different aspects of human thought, motivation, and behavior in the
workplace.
I-O psychology predates psychology's official birthdate in 1879. Here
are some examples of pre-psychology I-O psychologists:
- Aristotle:
Developed foundations for many modern organizational
design concepts.
- Machiavelli:
Offered leadership coaching to early organizational
leaders.
- Thomas Hobbes:
Encouraged centralized leadership to counter
wild nature of human beings.
- John Locke:
Proposed an early form of participative leadership.
- Adam Smith:
Developed foundations for much of the way
businesses have been organized since the time of the Industrial Revolution.
Why Is Industrial-Organizational Psychology Important?
Industrial-organizational psychology helps organizations:
- Increase profitability
- Recruit and select employees
- Identify and development leaders
- Improve operational efficiency
- Train and develop their workforces
- Improve employee morale
