Behavioral Viewpoint
MGT/521
August 24, 2015
Walter McCoy Goodwyn
Behavioral Viewpoint
Industrial Psychology is the study of human attitudes and work-related values that influence how people operate in the workplace. By understanding what working conditions and environments a person works best in, can help determine who is better suited to the job at hand and how managers can motivate their employees to succeed.
In the early 1900’s, The Industrial Revolution changed the working landscape for management and workers. The term “management” was becoming the norm and companies were trying to come up with parameters for managing the business and its employees (Powers, 2014). Around this time, Hugo Münsterberg wrote “The Psychology for Industrial Efficiency” that talked about the challenges that have come up in the industry from the point of view of a psychologist. In his book, Münsterberg recommended three ways psychologist could contribute to organizations in regards to workers in the workplace:
“Study jobs and determine which people are best suited to specific jobs” (Kinicki & Williams, 2016, p. 49).
“Identify the psychological conditions under which employees do their best work” (Kinicki & Williams, 2016, p. 49).
“Devise management strategies to influence employees to follow management’s interests” (Kinicki & Williams, 2016, p. 49).
By suggesting the three ways jobs and workers can be studied, this provides the facts on how workers operate on the job.
Starting with the selection of workers, Industrial Psychologist can suggest tests that measure prospective worker’s abilities and place them in a position that is conducive to their abilities. Since employers desire employees that can “grow with the organization and adapt effectively to the turbulence of a competitive environment in which dramatic change happens.” (“What Employers Want: A Postmodern Framework,” 2013, p. 33), they can select workers that are right for the job.
When studying the...