Integrating Organizational Behavior Management with Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Book excerpt: This book examines the intersection of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) and Industrial and Organizational Psychology (I/O Psychology). It argues that, whilst OBM and I/O Psychology have developed simultaneously, they have done so with minimal integration. I/O Psychology, a somewhat older field, has evolved to become widely accepted, both influencing management and social sciences and being affected by them. It can be viewed as a research-oriented subject that is closely aligned with human resources functions. With regards to the intersection of I/O Psychology with OBM, some practices are more closely related than others; and of those that are related, some are relatively consistent with OBM practices, while others are very inconsistent. Most I/O Psychology interventions focus on many people simultaneously, seeking to ensure that one intervention affects multiple employees as a cost-efficient way to improve organizations, while OBM is usually better than I/O Psychology at improving the behaviors of individuals and smaller groups or workers. This book provides a framework for understanding differences and similarities between I/O Psychology and OBM, and as such is an innovative compendium for students, scholars, applied psychologists, and human resource specialists. It was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management.