Organizational Psychology Definition of Organizational

Organizational Psychology

Definition of Organizational Psychology

Industrial and Organizational Psychology, also sometimes referred as industrial-organizational psychology, or I-O psychology, is defined as "the scientific study of the relationship between man and the world of work.... In the process of making a living" (Guion, 1965, p. 817). Another more pertinent definition is, "…the application or extension of psychological facts and principles to the problems concerning human beings operating within the context of business and industry" (Blum and Naylor, 1968, p 4).

Taking both these definitions into account, we can say that in essence organizational psychology is the utilization of scientifically verified psychological principles and research methods in order to understand behavior in various organizations. An important aspect of this discipline is that it is the application of psychological principles to all working environments, which vary in terms of type of situation and problems encountered. Secondly, the intention or aim of the understanding that is obtained from psychological research is to improve work standards and performance through the improvement of aspect such a job satisfaction in the organizational structure.

Central to this field is the fact that it is concerned mainly with group settings and focuses on issues that occur in the workplace. In this regard the organizational psychologist "… takes theories, research, and intervention and communication strategies and applies them to groups in both work and non-work settings" (What is Organizational Psychology? 2) Basically, this form of psychology is concerned with assisting people in work and other organizations to understand mutual interaction in a way that can provide better communication and understanding and improve work output and productivity.

2. The role of research and statistics in organizational psychology

In order to attain to the above-mentioned goals of organizational psychology, research is necessary in order to understand the way that the organization functions and to uncover any problem areas that impede performance and production. The aspect of human relationships is often a complex area, especially in large organizations, and therefore scientific and comprehensive methods of research and inquiry are necessary. Psychological research that is scientifically-based can be extremely useful in eradicating problem areas and conflicts and in improving workflow and production.

Because of the complexity of large organizations, statistics and quantifiable research methods are often implemented by industrial and organizational psychologists to ascertain trends and perceptions in the organization. However, qualitative research methodologies are also used in interviews and other more intimate research projects to improve working relationships and identify problem areas.

3. The Use of Organizational Psychology in Organizations

Something of the importance of the discipline of organizational psychology can be gleaned from the following quotation.

….today's world of team-based work, boundary less careers, rapidly changing and exceedingly competitive markets, and increasingly diverse workforces, it is vital to understand how individuals and groups make choices, arrive at decisions, and work together to create new products, goods and services. (Work and Organizational Psychology)

What the above quotation points out is that the complexity and dynamic nature of the modern interconnected and networked world has resulted in an increasingly complex organizational structure. This has necessitated professional insight into the way the individual interact and relate to one another in the organization - which is basically the function that the organizational psychologist performs.

Organizational psychology is therefore concerned with aspects such as how people within the organization manage their conflicts and factors that make for good leadership in a complex working environment with many different sections or departments and interactive elements. The area of communications which has become such an important part of modern management and leadership philosophy, is also an areas to which the organizational psychologist contributes.

Another area in which organizational psychology is important is the teaching and development of staff members, as well as in the selection of new members of the organization and their socialization into the structure and ethos of the organization. Organizational psychologists are also "…skilled in facilitating teambuilding projects and leadership training activities. This can be incredibly important for offices that are seeing personnel changes or those that are merging with other offices" (What is Organizational Psychology?).