PSY 435- CLASS – Industrial/Organizational Psychology
| SyllabusCollege of Social SciencesPSY/435 Version 3Industrial/Organizational Psychology |
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce the student to the field of industrial/organizational psychology. The emphasis is on the psychological principles and how they can be applied in a work context. Topics will include legal issues in employment, selection of employees, performance appraisal, training, leadership, motivation, and group behavior.
Policies
Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents:
· University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document.
· Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.
University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.
Course Materials
Spector, P. E. (2008). Industrial and organizational psychology (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
All electronic materials are available on the student website.
| Week One: Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 1.1 Describe the evolution of industrial/organizational psychology.1.2 Explain the role of research and statistics in industrial/organizational psychology.1.3 Discuss how industrial/organizational psychology can be used in organizations.1.4 Explain how industrial/organizational psychology is different from other disciplines of psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 1 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 2 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 3 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 2 | |
| IndividualIndustrial/ Organizational Psychology Paper | Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you examine the fundamental concepts of the field of industrial/organizational psychology. In your examination, address the following items: · Describe the evolution of the field of industrial/organizational psychology.· Explain how industrial/organizational psychology is different from other disciplines of psychology.· Discuss how industrial/organization psychology can be used in organizations.· Explain the role of research and statistics in industrial/organizational psychology. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | 10 |
| Week Two: Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Assessment | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 2 2.1 Discuss the concepts of a job analysis and its uses in organizations.2.2 Evaluate the reliability and validity of a job analysis.2.3 Evaluate different performance appraisal methods and explain their benefits and vulnerabilities.2.4 Analyze the different types of psychological tests that are used in the workplace. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 3 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 4 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 5 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 3 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 2 | |
| IndividualJob Analysis Paper | Choose a job you would be interested in pursuing to prepare for this assignment.Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you address the following: · Conduct a job analysis for your selected job using one of the job analysis methods and discuss how it could be used within an organization. · Evaluate the reliability and validity of your job analysis. · Evaluate different performance appraisal methods that might be applied to your chosen job. · Explain the various benefits and vulnerabilities of each performance appraisal method. Include at least two references.Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | 15 |
| Week Three: Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Employees | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 3 3.1 Examine the role of industrial/organizational psychology in selecting and training employees.3.2 Discuss methods for determining the level of success in organizational training programs | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 6 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 7of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 3 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 2 | |
| IndividualPsychological Testing in the Workplace | Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you address psychological testing that can be implemented in the workplace. Include the following: · Discuss three types of psychological testing used in the workplace and differentiate between those used for pre-employment or retention. · Discuss validity and reliability issues surrounding the use of psychological testing. · Discuss ethical issues involved in psychological testing. Include at least three references.Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | 15 | |
| Learning TeamEmployee Selection and Training Paper | Write a 1,200- to 1,400-word paper in which you examine the role of industrial/organizational psychology in selecting and training employees. In your examination, address the following: · Choose at least three real-world examples of how organizations have used industrial/organizational psychology to select and train employees. · Discuss methods to measure the level of success of each training program. · Discuss any legal and/or ethical concerns that may arise in the implementation of each training program. Include at least three references.Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | 10 |
| Week Four: The Individual and the Organization | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 4 4.1 Evaluate the different employee motivation theories and discuss some applications to organizational settings.4.2 Examine the concepts of job satisfaction and how it applies to a success or failure.4.3 Discuss concepts of productive and counterproductive employee behavior.4.4 Examine basic concepts of occupational stress. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 8 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 9 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 10 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 3 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 2 | |
| IndividualImproving Organization Retention Paper | Read the following scenario: You are an independent consultant who has recently been hired by JC’s Casino to help improve retention issues concerning the dealers and housekeepers. Most of the dealers have been leaving the casino to work at other casinos in the area, even though JC’s Casino pays better than their local competition. On several exit interviews, many of the dealers have cited the pit boss, Joe, as being “toxic, overbearing, evil, and incompetent.” Joe is the casino owner’s step-son and the HR director, Tom Sneed, is afraid to confront the owner. Among the housekeeping staff, there has been an above normal rate of absenteeism and high turnover of rooms. Many of the managers who work in accounting, payroll, and other departments have had to ask their full-time employees to help cover for housekeeping by cleaning rooms periodically. Because of this problem, the hotel has had to adjust their check in times from 3 p.m. (the industry standard) to 6 p.m. Customers have arrived earlier and the hotel has had to accommodate them by creating a room to hold luggage. They have also had to hire staff to man the luggage room. The director of housekeeping, Andrew Keehn, has been working hard to add more staff but he states “good help is hard to find.” The housekeeper’s current hourly wage is comparable to other casinos in the area but because of the staffing shortage, the housekeepers have to clean more rooms per day than their counterparts. The casino owner only knows that there are some issues with keeping the dealers and that some customers were upset because they had to wait to check in. You have been hired for a quick fix and your suggestions were needed yesterday. Write a 1,400- to 1,700-word paper in which you identify each issue and make recommendations to JC, the casino president, on how to improve overall retention. What the scenario does not provide, you can create. Be sure to include the following in your assessment: · Evaluate at least two work motivation theories and how they can be applied in order to improve employee recruitment and retention at JC’s Casino. · Examine possible occupational stressors that are negatively influencing recruitment and retention. What improvements would you suggest to alleviate these stressors? · Examine the role of job satisfaction and its influence on retention at the casino. Provide recommendations for improving job satisfaction of the employees and how that can play a part in successfully improving retention. · Discuss counterproductive employee behavior occurring at the casino. What suggestions would you make to reduce the counterproductive behavior and increase productive employee behavior? Include at least three references.Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. NOTE TO FACULTY: Please do not change this assignment. This assignment is part of the University of Phoenix, College of Social Sciences formal assessment of the BS/P program. Results from the analysis of these student assignments will be used to contribute to continuous improvement of the program. Any modifications to content, scoring, or other features may invalidate assessment results. | 15 |
| Week Five: Social Context of Work | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 5 5.1 Examine different group and team concepts as they relate to performance and diversity.5.2 Identify basic concepts of influence and power.5.3 Discuss different leadership theories.5.4 Explain how the differences between leadership and management affect networking within an organization.5.5 Understand the basic concepts and theories of organizational development. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 12 of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 13of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read Ch. 14of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | ||
| Readings | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Learning TeamLeadership and Performance in the Workplace Paper | Read the following scenario: Woody’s Veneer Factory has contacted you because the board wants their organization to be evaluated to determine the reasons for loss of money, increases in garbage fees, and loss of production. The data given to you shows that veneer production is at its lowest point and the cost of recycled material disposal has nearly doubled in the past quarter. On the day your team went to meet the factory superintendent, Max Barath, you saw one of the floor managers, Dave Flores, outside of Max’s office with a bag of ice over his eye. When the team inquired about the injury, Max stated, “It’s not a big deal. The quality control officer, Ken Howk, got upset with Dave and got in a little fight. Don’t worry about it. These two are old high school chums and this kind of thing happens now and then.” Through several weeks of your assessment, your team has noticed troubling occurrences happening in the factory. The factory managers that are located on the top floor are very abrasive and condescending to the people on the floor. There is a definite ‘us versus them’ attitude. There is also a lack of communication. Most of the communication is done on a bulletin board out front. Your team has also noticed that the floor workers are grinding up some of the good veneer. Management believes this is happening, so they are sneaking up in the cat walks to try to catch the floor workers in the act. But the floor workers have placed spies to watch out for the managers, particularly in the administrative areas next to the management offices. Whenever a manager comes out of the office, the administrative staff will call or text down to the floor to let the workers know so they can stop grinding up the good veneer. In addition, several employees on the floor are used as look outs and use hand signals to let everyone know what is going on. You are tasked to give a full report to the investors who pay for this factory. Write a 1,700- to 2,000-word paper in which you utilize industrial/organizational psychology to make recommendations to improve the situation at Woody’s Veneer Factory. Using basic concepts and theories of organizational development, develop a plan to improve working conditions within the factory and describe how it will reduce garbage fees, increase production, and the factory will once again be making a profit. What the scenario does not provide, you can create. Include the following in your paper: · Analyze different group and team concepts that could be implemented in order to improve the performance and diversity of employees in the factory. · Provide at least two examples of leadership theories and how to implement them in order to improve the relationship between management and floor workers. · Describe how the floor workers view the influence and power of management. Discuss how this is negatively and/or positively impacting the workplace and changes you would recommend. · Explain the differences between leadership and management. Provide examples of how management at the factory could utilize leadership styles to improve networking with the floor workers. Include at least three references.Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. | 15 |
