posted on 2024-11-18, 14:49authored byInaugural addresses
Inaugural lecture--Department of Industrial Psychology, Rand Afrikaans University, 13 April 1970@@As an applied science, Industrial Psychology has the practical aims of maximum productivity and optimal adjustment of the worker, these being two complementary facets of a single objective. The industrial psychologist's primary role is therefore to be found in the joint planning as well as the diagnosis and maintenance
of personnel and man-machine systems.
Productivity has its human implications, both as far as human input and the satisfaction of human needs are concerned. The future is likely to place additional demands on human potential and creativity. This calls for systematic personnel work, more particularly the development of South Africa's human resources. Industrial mental health should be considered not only as an influence on productivity, but as a criterion by itself. In spite of considerable costs of occupational maladjustment, both for industry and the community of which it is part, many employers tend to neglect their responsibility in this regard.
There is room for more systematic guidance and closer cooperation between enterprise and scientist in order that basic research, training and practical needs may be aligned. This is particularly relevant in the case of Industrial Psychology which by its nature offers its contributions within the context of a particular cultural setting.