INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY & WORK ENVIRONMENT (PGDM-HR 4.

1)
UNIT-1

UNIT-1
Meaning History Foundation/ Pillars Objectives Scope & Importance Applicability of Industrial Psychology

MEANING OF PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY is the SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. It is the study of how humans behave as they relate to their environment. Psychology studies how the mind works and how the nervous system helps the organism to adapt successfully to its environment.

MEANING OF INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

The branch of applied psychology that is concerned with efficient management of an industrial labor force and especially with problems encountered by workers in a mechanized environment. Industrial psychology is concerned with the entire spectrum of human behaviour - C.S. George Industrial Psychology is the study of people at work in industry & in business. It is their study of their aptitudes ^& their qualifications for jobs. - Thomas W. Harrell

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Prior to World War I: Focus on how to increase productivity using training and motivation such as rest periods. World War I to 1940: Hawthorne experiment World War II: Research was conducted on equipment design, the selection and training for various positions and job classification.

CONTD
1950s to 1970s: Motivation theories presented by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. 1980s and 1990s: Concerned with problems of organization, communication process, employeeemployer relationship, leadership & its styles, incentives (financial & non-financial), selection, working conditions etc.

FOUNDATION/ KEY PILLARS OF IP

i. Individual Differences: Basic assumption is that every person is different from others. Individuals differ in physical characteristics, attitudes, personality, skills etc. Every person should be selected, trained & treated on the basis of the kind of person he is. Scientific techniques have been developed to identify & measure individual differences in psychological factors.

CONTD
ii. Causation of Human Behaviour: - Assumes that human behaviour is caused. - It is the situation which stimulates a person to behave in a particular manner. - It is necessary to understand the causes of behaviour before making an attempt to improve upon it. - human behaviour is caused by needs which can be controlled in order to get the desired results. - This concept is very helpful in the motivation of employees in industry.

OBJECTIVES
To improve the situation on the job. To affect high morale and enthusiasm at work. To restore the mental health of upset and confused individuals. To remove risks to health's or threats to safety. To increase efficiency of people at work. To increase productivity and hence the profits.

IMPORTANCE OF IP
1. Research: Industrial psychologists apply the scientific method to solve problems in the workplace. This involves tasks such as testing a new method of completing tasks at select locations to compare the outcomes of each technique. 2. Hiring: As a result of research, industrial psychologists determine what qualities and skills to search for in potential employees 3. Designing Tests: Industrial psychologists are frequently tasked with creating standardized tests to answer questions about employees and their work

CONTD
4. Applying Tests: Because of the complexity of some tests, industrial psychologists choose appropriate tests, conduct tests, and interpret their results 5. Changes Based on Research: After conducting extensive research and testing an industrial psychologist can propose changes to a business and its way of operating with solid statistical support.

SCOPE OF IP
1. Work Behavior: Attitudes of employees as related to their performance are a main theme. 2. Management: Many management skills fall under the umbrella of industrial psychology. 3. Environmental Design: The psychology of the work space concerns the environment of the worker. 4. Product Design: A product that has been designed bearing safety, efficiency and desirability in mind may have a higher chance of being successful in the marketplace. 5. Organizational Studies

APPLICATIONS OF IP
a. Employment Testing: The psychologists have designed various tests to select right people for right job. b. Designing Training & Development Programme: The psychologists help in determining the training needs of employees, & designing the training programme which can deliver good results. c. Job Evaluation: Psychologists have developed certain systems of job evaluation to serve as a scientific of basis wage rate fixation. d. Human Engineering: Concerned with designing & laying out of equipment in order to get the greater efficiency of manmachine system.

CONTD..
e. Performance Appraisal: Industrial psychologists have helped in replacing the traditional casual approach to performance appraisal by the systematic technique of performance appraisal. f. Vocational Guidance & Counselling: Industrial psychologists provide vocational guidance to the people who are in search of jobs. g. Motivation of Personnel & Improvement of Morale: Industrial psychologists can help the management in designing suitable system of incentives in order to motivate the employees.