Industrial/Organizational Psychology applies scientific principles to maximize employee and organizational effectiveness in the workplace. Some key areas I/O psychologists focus on include selection and placement of employees, training and development programs, performance management, organization development, and workplace quality of life. I/O psychologists also study ergonomics and work environment factors like noise, lighting, temperature and their impact on psychological and physical worker conditions. The goal is to design jobs, equipment, and work systems that allow humans to perform effectively while improving worker satisfaction and productivity.

1. Industrial/ Organization
Psychology

2. Industrial Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology is a field
in which scientific principles are developed
and applied in the workplace, Industry and
organization.
Approximately 4% of all psychologists are
work in I/O area.

3. Fields of I/O psychology
• I/O psychologist can be grouped into 6 general
fields.
1. Selection and placement
2. Training and development
3. Performance management
4. Organization development
5. Quality of workplace
6. Ergonomics (Engineering Psychology)

4. Selection and placement
• I/O psychologist develop assessment methods for the
selection, placement and promotion of employees.

5. Training and development
• I/O psychologist concerned with the identification of
employee skills that need to be enhanced to improve
job performance and also design ways to determine
whether training and development programs have
been successful.
• The area of training include
1. Technical skill enhancement ( computer operation)
2. Managerial development programs
3. Training of all employees to work together
effectively

6. Performance management
• Performance management is the process of
identifying criteria or standards for determining how
well employees are performing their jobs.
• I/O psychologist are concerned with value of job
performance to the organization.
• They may be involved with measuring the
performance of
1. Work team
2. Units within organization
3. Organization itself

7. Organization development
• Organization development is the process of analyzing
the structure of an organization to maximize the
satisfaction and effectiveness of individuals, work
groups and customer.
• The field of organization development is directed
toward facilitating the organization growth

8. Quality of Work life
• I/O psychologist are concerned with factors that
contribute to a healthy and productive workforce.
• High quality workforce contributes to greater
productivity of the organization and to the emotional
health of the individual

9. Ergonomics
• “Ergonomics means human machine relationship.”
• It is concerned with designing tools, equipment and
machines that are well-suited with human skills.
• I/O psychologist design work system that humans can
operate effectively.

10. Work environment
• Psychological conditions
• Physical conditions

11. Psychological Condition
• I/O psychologist introduce different methods to improve
the psychological condition of the individual in the work
place
• Reduce stress
• Reduce work load
• Deal with depression, anxiety and other psychological
problems
• Arranging time for work
• Fixed and flexible hours
• Shift Work(fixed shifts , night shifts and rotating shifts)

12. Physical condition
• I/O psychologist designing effective space for work
• Noise
• Lighting
• Atmospheric condition ( temperature and humidity)
• Arranging work space (Clearance specifies the
amount of space required for work. Head room, leg
room and elbow room are common terms)
• Work surface and chairs ( well designed seating can
reduce muscular fatigue)
• Designing work spaces for disabled workers

13. Physical condition (cont…)
Working with and without machines
1. Handling materials by hands
2. Use of hands tools ( hand differences)
Accidents occur due to poor physical and psychological
conditions and I/O psychologist also develop different
interventions to control accidents.

14. I/O psychology
• Industrial Psychology is focused on the management perspective of
organizational effectiveness through the proper use of human
resources and people.
• Common issues in Industrial Psychology include performance
appraisals, efficient job design, and employee selection and training.
• Organizational Psychology, on the other hand, is focused more on
the individual employee. It is concerned with understanding and
enhancing the well-being and development of the individual
employee.
• Common issues in Organizational Psychology include job stress,
employee attitudes and behavior, and supervisory practices.