Industrial and Organisational Psychology

Industrial and Organisational psychology are areas of psychology that concerns the scientific study of human behaviour in workplaces and organisations. They are specialist areas that apply psychological knowledge to the work context, with the aim of improving organisational effectiveness and the quality of work life. This 6 unit course involves the application of core areas of psychology (personality, motivation, learning, health, group processes, intergroup relations) to an organisational context. This course will cover the main topics in these fields including personnel selection, performance management, training and development, motivation, teams, leadership, and organisational culture and change. A distinctive aspect of the course is a focus on the social psychology of organisations and as a result the role of group psychology and processes in organisational functioning. There is a recognition that Industrial and Organisational psychology are concerned with the impact of organisational strategy and culture, structures, and processes on the motivation and behaviour of the individual (and vice versa) and not the study of the individual in isolation (e.g., individual counselling in a work context). In lectures students can expect to gain an overview of key topics in Industrial and Organisational Psychology and in the laboratory program more practical know-how about how to effectively work with others in a team environment (team work, leadership dynamics, giving and receiving feedback). Many aspects of the laboratory program will mirror management-type training with group exercises followed by discussion and exploration of team dynamics. Students will be required to translate relevant theory and research to practical settings and problems and to give a group presentation to the laboratory class on a recruitment process.