Industrial Psychology : goodness of fit? Fit for goodness?
educational resource
posted on 2024-11-18, 13:55authored byInaugural addresses
Inaugural lecture--Dept. of Industrial Psychology, University of Johannesburg, 6 November 2006@@This paper represents a critical reflection on the relevance of industrial
psychology. Against a historical-developmental background of the discipline, the
inquiry questions its goodness of fit, i.e. its contribution to organisation and
society. It is found that the fit is limited to its relevance for inwardly focused
organisational behaviour due to its endorsement of the instrumental (strategic)
motives of organisations that subscribe to an owner/shareholder agenda.
Industrial psychology’s potential fit for goodness is explored with a view to
enhance its relevance in an era of goodness. Scientific and practical interaction
between industrial psychology and business ethics is suggested to facilitate
movement away from a descriptive approach. The heuristics of reflection,
resolve, research and resources are suggested to facilitate movement towards a
normative (multiple stakeholder) paradigm aimed at broad based goodness and
sustainability. Lastly, the potential risks inherent to an application of the
heuristics are accounted for.