Selection
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Selection is the “process of collecting and evaluating information about an individual in order to extend an offer of employment" (Gatewood, Feild, & Barrick, 2016). The objective of selection is to identify the best performer within a pool of candidates through the use of measurements. These measurements are validated by demonstrating a relationship between a job analysis of the position and the measurement itself. Examples of measurements include: interviews, ability tests, and biographical data. Within the MSU I/O program's curriculum, the Personnel Selection course is taught by Dr. John Kulas. |
Engagement
Engagement is a construct that describes an employee’s state of personal immersion in their work. This construct can be expressed affectively, behaviorally, and cognitively. Typically, engagement is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. In I/O, engagement is an important construct because it has a strong association with employee well-being, productivity, and profitability (Byrne, 2014). The concept of engagement is taught by Dr. Valerie Sessa in the Work, Attitudes, and Motivation course within MSU's I/O program. |
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Psychometrics
Psychometrics involves the design and development of tests/inventories which consist of items used to measure a construct of interest. It was defined originally as “the art of imposing measurement and number upon operations of the mind” (Galton, 1879, pg 149). Using different models, psychometricians can analyze and solve conceptual and statistical problems (Borsboom, 2019). Within the curriculum for MSU's I/O program, Psychometrics is a course taught by Dr. John Kulas. The concepts from that class are used in Personnel Selection which is taught by the same professor. |
Statistical Coding Programs
R and Python are both open source coding languages with a large community. R is used mostly for statistical analyses while Python delves more into data science (Rungta, 2020). However, both languages are capable of doing data science analyses and building models/graphs. The use of pre-made packages makes it easier for creating models and analyzing psychometric information. For MSU's I/O program curriculum, R is taught in Psychometrics and Personnel Selection by Dr. John Kulas. Quantitative Statistics, taught by Dr. Kevin Askew, works mainly with SPSS. The program doesn't currently have any classes on Python, but it is taught under the computer science program and could be taken as an elective. For tutorials on R and SPSS, click here. |
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Organizational Development
Organizational Development (OD) is a research-based process that helps organizations to become more effective by providing strategies, processes and structures that help the organization to grow (Cummings & Worley, 2008). Some examples of OD interventions may include areas such as team building - helping groups accomplish tasks in effective ways through training activities, work and job designs - defining the structure of the organization and expectations of individual job roles. In MSU's I/O program, the Interventions course taught by Dr. Kevin Askew may focus on OD interventions. The Consulting seminar course touches on this topic as well. |
Performance Management
Performance Management focuses on development of assessments and techniques to evaluate if employees are doing their jobs well. This is done in support of accomplishing the strategic objectives of the organization, which includes clarifying expectations, setting objectives, identifying goals, providing feedback, and reviewing performance (UC Berkeley, 2020). Due to the subjectivity of performance management systems developed for specific purposes within a company, not every system is conducive for all organizations and employees. MSU's I/O program offers a Performance Management course taught by Dr. Jennifer Bragger. |
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Training & Development
Training & Development refers to creation of activities or processes within an organization to enhance the knowledge and skills of employees while providing information and instruction on how to better perform specific tasks (TalentLyft, 2020). Some benefits include enhancement of skills, increase in productivity and profitability, improvement of organizational culture, improvement of quality and safety, and improvement in an organization’s morale and image. Classes in MSU’s I/O program that discuss Training and Development are Work Attitudes and Motivation taught by Dr. Valerie Sessa, Interventions with Dr. Kevin Askew, and Performance Management and Leadership Development both taught by Dr. Jennifer Bragger. |
Work-Life Balance
Work-life focuses on employee satisfaction and maximizing productivity while balancing the time individuals spend within the workplace and outside of work. Time outside of work may include managing relationships, family responsibilities, and other external interests and hobbies (Bayram, 2020). The strategies an individual uses to balance their work and life demands are difficult to define, let alone achieve. Slowly, work-life balance has expanded to include unmarked territory including burnout prevention and stress management. While there is no specific course designated solely for this topic within MSU’s I/O program, the concept is discussed in the Work Attitudes & Motivation course with Dr. Valerie Sessa. |
References
Bayram, M. (2020, September 18). Defining Work-Life Balance: Its History and Future. Kumanu. https://www.kumanu.com/defining-work-life-balance-its-history-and-future/
Borsboom, D. (2019, November 29). What is Psychometrics? Psychometric Society. https://www.psychometricsociety.org/what-psychometrics
Byrne, Z. S. (2014). Understanding Employee Engagement: Theory, Research, and Practice (Applied Psychology Series) (1st ed.). Routledge.
Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2008). Organization Development and Change (9th ed.). South-Western College Pub.
Galton, F. (1879). Psychometric Experiments. Brain, 2(2), 149–162. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/2.2.149
Gatewood, R., Feild, H. S., & Barrick, M. (2015). Human Resource Selection (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Performance Management: Introduction | People & Culture. (2020). UC Berkeley. https://hr.berkeley.edu/hr-network/central-guide-managing-hr/managing-hr/managing-successfully/performance-management/introduction
Rungta, K. (2020, October 23). R Vs Python: What’s the Difference? Guru99. https://www.guru99.com/r-vs-python.html#:%7E:text=R%20and%20Python%20are%20both,languages%20with%20a%20large%20community.&text=R%20is%20mainly%20used%20for,language%20oriented%20towards%20data%20science.
What is Training and Development? (2020). TalentLyft. https://www.talentlyft.com/en/resources/what-is-training-and-development
Borsboom, D. (2019, November 29). What is Psychometrics? Psychometric Society. https://www.psychometricsociety.org/what-psychometrics
Byrne, Z. S. (2014). Understanding Employee Engagement: Theory, Research, and Practice (Applied Psychology Series) (1st ed.). Routledge.
Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2008). Organization Development and Change (9th ed.). South-Western College Pub.
Galton, F. (1879). Psychometric Experiments. Brain, 2(2), 149–162. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/2.2.149
Gatewood, R., Feild, H. S., & Barrick, M. (2015). Human Resource Selection (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Performance Management: Introduction | People & Culture. (2020). UC Berkeley. https://hr.berkeley.edu/hr-network/central-guide-managing-hr/managing-hr/managing-successfully/performance-management/introduction
Rungta, K. (2020, October 23). R Vs Python: What’s the Difference? Guru99. https://www.guru99.com/r-vs-python.html#:%7E:text=R%20and%20Python%20are%20both,languages%20with%20a%20large%20community.&text=R%20is%20mainly%20used%20for,language%20oriented%20towards%20data%20science.
What is Training and Development? (2020). TalentLyft. https://www.talentlyft.com/en/resources/what-is-training-and-development