Industrial Psychology Research Articles

Labor unrest at Wistron Corporation India plant – What went wrong?

Learning outcomes After completion of this case study, students/managers will be able to analyze reasons for the labor unrest at Wistron Corporation’s Indian manufacturing plant; examine the implementation of labor regulations applicable to the employment of contract workers by Wistron Corporation; infer the problems associated with rapid expansion in the workforce; analyze the labor regulatory challenges faced by Wistron Corporation; and demonstrate problem-solving skills. Case overview/synopsis The focus of this case study was the crisis faced by Apple’s contract manufacturer – Wistron Corporation due to labor unrest, riots and violence in its production facility located near Bangalore in India. This case study discussed the CEO’s dilemma in resolving the crisis and regaining the confidence of stakeholders, namely, the contract employees, Apple Inc. and the State Government of Karnataka. To give the readers an overview of the crisis – this case discussed in detail the underlying reasons for the labor unrest such as a rapid increase in manpower, unilateral increase in working hours without extra pay, unjustified pay cuts, understaffed and underqualified human resources (HR) department, ill-equipped attendance and payroll system. It also gave an overview of mistakes in labor management that could be avoided by a manufacturing firm. The case also discussed the pressure faced by the Wistron CEO due to probation and a new business freeze by Apple Inc. This case study is suitable for understanding the complexities of labor laws and the legal complications that can arise when a corporation disregards local labor laws while operating in foreign countries. Complexity academic level The case is best suited for postgraduate and executive MBA students studying labor law, industrial psychology and HR management in commerce and business management streams. The authors suggest that the instructor should inform students to read the case study before attending the 90-min session. It can be executed in the classroom after discussing the theoretical concepts. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human Resource Management.

From Trait to Choice: How Regulatory Focus Shapes Store Promotion Usage

This research investigates how individuals’ regulatory orientations influence their utilization of store promotions through two meticulously designed studies in distinct contexts. The first study examines innate cognitive inclinations, while the second manipulates cognitive orientations within specific contexts. The findings reveal a significant relationship between regulatory orientations and store promotion usage, which is moderated by impulsivity and engagement levels. Importantly, this study addresses a critical gap in the existing literature by examining the same concept from two distinct cognitive perspectives, enhancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between regulatory orientations and store promotion utilization. The implications are twofold. Firstly, for retailers, this research offers practical significance by suggesting in-store promotions specially tailored for promotion-oriented individuals and more deliberative out-of-store promotions to capture the attention of prevention-oriented individuals, ultimately enhancing marketing effectiveness. Secondly, from a theoretical standpoint, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between regulatory orientations, cognitive processes, and consumer behavior, thus enriching the theoretical foundation of the field. This research is particularly relevant to scholars and practitioners in marketing, psychology, and retail management, providing valuable insights into consumer behavior and the formulation of marketing strategies.

Mental health interventions in Italian prisons: are we ready for a new model? Suggestions from the Parma experience.

Mental health interventions for Italian prisoners with mental disorder remain a problematic issue, despite radical changes in psychiatric care and a 2008 major government reform transferring mental health care in prison to the National Health Service. Indeed, prison has increasingly become a place of severe psychological distress, where also serious mental illnesses sometimes occur. In this contribution, we commented on the recommendations recently proposed by the Emilia-Romagna Region on how structuring mental healthcare interventions in all regional jails. Moreover, starting from the findings reported in recent epidemiological studies examining the prevalence of mental disorders in Emilia-Romagna prisons, we proposed a new treatment model for mental health and pathological addictions in jail, which took into account the current incidence of inmates with severe mental illness, psychological distress due to incarceration, and substance use disorder. Perhaps, this new intervention model (specifically centered on clinical psychology and case management by intramural mental health professionals) requires a vision able to overcome the classical "medical-centered" approach, which still too often permeates many sectors of public mental healthcare services. In our opinion, if we decide to look at the moon, we shouldn't dwell too much on the finger pointing to it.

Leisure and Festive Activities in Russian Army on Frontlines of World War I

The need to restore lost data on the last major war of the Russian Empire implies a comprehensive coverage of events during those years, including their non-combat component. Based on the study of the “Journals of Military Actions” of combat units, which reflect little-researched stories of non-combat realities of front-line life, the authors offer a new perspective on the military everyday life of the Russian Imperial Army. The article focuses on the “pleasant” and unexpected nuances of the daily lives of soldiers and officers during the difficult years of war. Researchers have turned to such facts of military reality during the specified period as the organization of the award procedure for the command staff and lower ranks, the organization of prayers as integral components of festive events, the conduct of state (imperial) and religious holidays, as well as recreational activities. This work provides an opportunity to obtain an objective understanding of the multifaceted life and everyday life of people in wartime conditions: when circumstances allowed, performances, games, and sports events were organized and held. Without theoretical knowledge in the field of psychology and stress management techniques, the command of the Russian army organized and encouraged activities aimed at alleviating the negative consequences of combat stress.

The relative effects of diversity on collective learning in local collaborative networks in Belgium

Collaborative networks are horizontal settings of public governance that enhance interactions between a diversity of actors (for example, civil servants, companies or citizens). They can help cross-cutting public policies (for example, climate policies) to gain coherence and become more innovative. To do so, collective learning, defined as the broadened and mutual understanding of public issues arising out of repeated social interactions, is critical but not spontaneous. In particular, the diversity of participants creates learning opportunities that do not necessarily transform into concrete learning. So, how does diversity lead to collective learning in collaborative networks? To address this research question, this article researched two collaborative networks within the city administration of Schaerbeek (Belgium). Based on semistructured interviews, mental models were used to assess collective learning, and social network analysis was performed to understand the structure of interactions between diverse members. The findings show that the influence of diversity on collective learning was contingent on the collaborative network, but fostered by social interactions, with noticeable links between formal and informal interactions. From these findings, the article makes three scholarly contributions. First, it deepens our understanding of collective learning, with a focus on the development of shared understandings as a condition of consensus formation. Second, it builds on psychology and resource management research to assess collective learning through mental models, and provides a new approach to the measurement of policy learning. Third, it contributes to the debate on the implications of different inclusion levels and conditions for the results of collaborative governance and their transformation in policy innovations.

Capitalism and the Depression

The promising project of proving the influence of capitalism as a cause of depressive disorders, including suicide, will be morally, legally and politically compromised if it is not theoretically and methodologically carried out at the level of the possibilities of modern science in the field of psychiatry, (industrial) psychology and philosophy of existence. Pre-industrial society was based on the passive possession of land, industrial society on the active exploitation of capital. Modern professional society is based on human intellectual capital, which is created by the affinity, talent and education of the individual. The basis of capitalism is a class society, and this socio-economic formation is a "terminal patient" also according to this line, since the class structure has been replaced by a "professional society" and in this way capitalism is losing ground under its feet. In developed countries, already half of the GDP refers to the part of the social fabric that, in addition to capitalism, is occupied by the professional society. The biggest shortcoming of scientists dealing with the connections between capitalism and depression, including suicide, is that they have not yet recognized it. In a professional society, "capitalists" by profession should also be "entrepreneurs" in a vertical business hierarchy with appropriate competencies (attitudes, knowledge, skills), but not members of the ruling class horizontally! The main theoretical-methodological problem for any empirical scientific research is to define the variables in a way that enables operational procedures of the given study, including measurements.

Designing key performance indicators (KPIs) for decent work in the pharmaceutical supply chain of Iran

While decent work has emerged as the central theme of the psychology of work theory and a global concept and directive for promoting social, political, and economic justice, it has garnered increasing scientific and political attention in the past two decades. However, until now, no defined measurement scale for the pharmaceutical supply chain exists. The present study aims to design and validate key performance indicators (KPIs) for 'decent work' in the pharmaceutical industry supply chain of Iran, using the Decent Work Daffi Scale (2017) as a reliable framework with five sub-scales and 15 items, tested and validated. For the validation of the Decent Work Scale, a quantitative survey study was conducted among selected pharmaceutical industry experts with a sample size of 228 individuals in the year 2023. The current study adopted an exploratory factor analysis approach using SPSS software and a confirmatory factor analysis through AMOS version 24 software. In this context, the factor structure, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were examined. The results showed that the five-factor structure outperforms the one-factor model with evidence supporting the convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of the five-factor scale. Thus, the measurement of decent work in the pharmaceutical industry of Iran comprises five sub-scales: occupational safety conditions, access to healthcare, adequate remuneration, Free time and rest, and alignment of organizational values with family and societal values. This scale can serve as a useful tool for industrial and organizational psychology research, as well as for studies on the sustainability of social supply chains.

Organisatonal Climate in Healthcare Institutions

Background: The organizational climate is defined as the perception of events within the work environment (relationships, values, actions) among organization members that are psychologically meaningful. It also includes the influence of the surroundings on employee motivation and behavior. This concept is studied within the field of industrial and organizational psychology, particularly focusing on healthcare institutions. Objective: The study aims to explain the concept, definition, and history of organizational climate, with a specific focus on healthcare institutions. It also aims to examine the factors influencing the work environment and the extent to which they can improve it. Methods: The research utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative approach is presented through a non-standardized survey method. Qualitative research was conducted using case studies of healthcare institutions in Sarajevo Canton. The integration of these methods allowed for a comprehensive examination of the organizational climate. Results: The survey provided detailed insights into the organizational climate within healthcare institutions in Sarajevo Canton. It identified key factors that influence the work environment and highlighted areas for potential improvement. Discussion: The findings underscore the importance of strategic management of human resources and potential in creating a positive organizational climate. The study suggests that improving organizational climate is a long-term, multi-layered process involving doctors, managers, and all organizational members working towards common goals. Further research is needed to explore specific interventions that can enhance organizational climate in healthcare settings. Conclusion: This underscores the need for healthcare institutions to focus on fostering a supportive organizational climate and nurturing positive interpersonal interactions to enhance overall job satisfaction among employees.

“Pará Music” and Terruá Pará: regional identity, cultural industry and mass psychology

Resumo Desde a consolidação de emissoras de rádio e TV no Pará, a mídia local propaga a ideia de uma “música paraense”, título utilizado com frequência em uma série de eventos recentemente produzidos dentro e fora do estado. Ao contestar essa singularização, a presente pesquisa apresenta uma análise psicossociológica dos mecanismos que operam na inter-relação entre indústria cultural e formação de massas, utilizando como objeto privilegiado de estudo o espetáculo Terruá Pará. Visando tal intento, além do recurso à revisão bibliográfica, realizou-se uma pesquisa documental sobre parte do material impresso produzido para a terceira edição do festival. Em termos conclusivos, defende-se que o Terruá Pará, embora pautado por um discurso pretensamente racional em prol da valorização da música regional, torna-se dialeticamente promotor de irracionalidades expressas na sugestão de modos de subjetivação específicos que, desconsiderando diversidades, acabam por reduzir o seu público consumidor à qualidade de multidão abstrata.

Role of data mining under e-commerce environment in understanding consumer psychology and customer relationship management

Role of data mining under e-commerce environment in understanding consumer psychology and customer relationship management

Employee Psychological Resources as a Microfoundation for Organizational Knowledge Creation Across Cultures: A Yin–Yang Dialectical Systems View

In the new normal, characterized by intensifying digitalization and cross-cultural conflicts, organizational knowledge creation (KC) for the purpose of innovation necessitates better orchestration of stakeholders with culturally distinct beliefs and polychronic working patterns. This implies an imperative to address organizational KC from a microangle that can help decipher profound cultural codes in human mental programming. Thus, this research departs from a Yin–Yang dialectical system view that can interpret cross-cultural cognitive paradoxes and uses a microfoundational approach to explore how employees’ psychological capital (PsyCap) affects the KC capability and moderating effects of social capital-enhancing HR configuration on the above mechanisms. Using cross-border e-business models as the setting, the results of this article show an inverse U-shaped relationship between hope/optimism/self-efficacy and KC and a positive association between resilience and KC. Moreover, we found that social capital-enhancing HR configuration may intervene in these relationships. Our study adopts a Yin–Yang dialectical system framework to theoretically decode how different components of PsyCap act as a microfoundation to co-engineer KC processes with culturally diverse stakeholders, enriching the positive psychology and knowledge management literature. The results offer implications for orchestrating the intertwining streams of polychronic KC among multinationals in turbulent times.

Role of data mining under e-commerce environment in understanding consumer psychology and customer relationship management

Role of data mining under e-commerce environment in understanding consumer psychology and customer relationship management

Industrial workers and bullying: a systematic review and meta-analysis of workplace violence.

Workplace violence is a significant problem in industry, especially among rank-and-file workers, known as "blue-collar workers". This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the suitability of the reduced Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ-R) as an instrument to measure workplace violence in this type of population and synthesize the results of studies that have used it in different industrial sectors. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. Publications describing populations of industrial workers were identified and included in the meta-analysis. For meta-analysis, we extracted data that allowed us to estimate the effect size of the included studies. We used a random-effects model to estimate the overall effect size and assessed heterogeneity between studies using the I² statistic. The global effect size test showed that the overall effect size was significantly different from zero (3.00, t=22.28, p<0.001), indicating an overall effect in relation to workplace violence measured by the NAQ-R in industrial workers. Our results support the claim that the NAQ-R is an effective tool for assessing workplace violence among industrial workers. These findings have important implications for practitioners and researchers working in the field of industrial psychology and occupational health.

Lessons from the holy grail of industrial psychology: theoretical, practical, and social implications for HRM in the current landscape of academia amidst the Covid-19 crisis

Lessons from the holy grail of industrial psychology: theoretical, practical, and social implications for HRM in the current landscape of academia amidst the Covid-19 crisis

Analysis of Advertising and Consumer Psychology

This article will focus on the introduction of the overall advertising industry, including its historical development and 14 forms of advertising skills. The 14 forms will be introduced in detail in order for the audience to have a clearer vision. Also, information on several important consumer psychologies will be incorporated. For example, consensus, reciprocity, and commitment. Then, an analysis of how consumer psychology and advertisements interact with each other will be presented from 4 different perspectives. This part will focus on the market dynamics as well as the inner emotional conditions of consumers. Functions of advertisement will follow up. According to the previous introductory contents, there will be assumptions of the way advertising influences consumer psychology, more specifically advertisement brings effect onto human culture and social behaviors. Finally, the paper will make a general conclusion about the effects the present advertising industry and consumer psychology have on society.

Actualization of cyber resilience and historical origins of the concept of "resilience"

In this article, cyber resilience is defined as the ability to withstand external shocks caused by cyber risks, recover from them, and adapt to them. The importance of building a cyber resilience system in modern conditions is emphasized and examples of emergency situations of cyberattacks are given. The need to ensure cyber resilience at facilities and institutions is considered, different types of threats aimed at different systems, as well as the consequences of their negative impact are highlighted.&#x0D; It is noted that resilience and risk management, although interrelated, are still different. Risk management involves quantitative risk assessment, which forms a decision on the most appropriate strategy for responding to them. Resilience is important when risk is incalculable, when hazardous conditions are a complete surprise, or when analytical risk parameters have proven ineffective.&#x0D; It is emphasized that at a fundamental level, there are certain disagreements about the true meaning of resilience: for some, it implies the ability of a system to withstand a shock and return to its initial state, while for others it is an evolutionary process leading to adaptation and a new state of balance.&#x0D; Resilience has a long and rich history in various fields of scientific knowledge, including ecology, psychology, and disaster management. One of its main advantages is that it allows complex systems to prepare for adverse events and continue to operate under extraordinary conditions. It is concluded that the "prevent and protect” paradigm, which is still dominant today, is insufficient, and that risk management tools need to be developed in the direction of cyber resilience.

Industrial and organisational psychology Master’s coursework and internship as enabler of employability

Orientation: The general goal of the professional industrial and organisational psychology (IOP) master’s coursework and internship programmes is to enable the qualifying student to contribute to organisational strategic and operational human resource practices and people behavioural dynamics, assessment, and intervention design.Research purpose: The study explored the perceived effectiveness of the professional IOP master’s coursework and internship programmes in qualifying intern psychologists as employable industrial and organisational psychologists (IOPs).Motivation for the study: Internships are a practical way for intern psychologists to operationalise their professional purpose, acquire key occupation-related skills and practise their professional capability in real-world work settings.Research approach/design and method: The sample involved South African intern psychologists specialising in IOP (n = 17). Qualitative research methods with thematic data analysis were employed.Main findings: Guided by self-determination theory, the findings suggested that the IOP master’s coursework and internship programmes promote holistic development and embed confidence in practical and theoretical competence on both a personal and a professional level. Intrinsic and autonomous motivation regarding the IOP’s role and identity are also crystallised while the importance of continuous personal and professional growth, as well as a good support network, are acknowledged.Practical/managerial implications: Understanding the intern IOPs experience and required competencies for employment may help to improve the design and development of the professional IOP master’s coursework and internship programmes.Contribution/value-add: The study especially emphasised the need to enhance the effectiveness and support offered within the professional IOP master’s coursework and internship programmes by incorporating the principles of self-determination theory.

(Un)making labor invisible: A syllabus.

From industrial psychology and occupational therapy to the laboratory bench and scenes of "heroic" fieldwork, there are important connections between the science of labor and the labor of science. Participants in the 2022 Gordon Cain Conference explored how greater attention to these connections might deepen historical understanding of what constitutes "science" and what counts as "labor." Our conversations circled around themes of vulnerability (of systems, individual bodies, historical testimony), affect (pertaining to historical actors and ourselves), and interdependence (e.g. across human groups, species, political boundaries, and time). For the members of this group, which grew out of a panel discussion, these themes and motivations coalesced around a topical focus on invisibility, which helped us to articulate - in the form of a co-created syllabus - research questions about science and labor from multiple angles pertaining to practice, archival preservation, and scholarly representation. This syllabus is organized into six thematic modules that aim to challenge and historicize the concept of invisible labor by facilitating comparisons across geographic, temporal, conceptual, and disciplinary boundaries. The goals of this collaborative syllabus, in sum, are manifold: we seek to facilitate more inclusive histories of science through critical engagement with "invisibility" and thereby promote a more expansive understanding of what constitutes scientific labor; to highlight the constitutive role of gendered labor practices in the scientific enterprise; to draw attention to interdependencies that make all forms of production (knowledge or material) possible; to elucidate systems of remuneration for scientific labor over the longue durée and through pointed comparisons; and, finally, to promote self-reflexivity about the methods we use to narrate the history of science and make sense of our own labors.

Leadership Style and its Influence on Employee Well-Being and Productivity: Industrial and Organizational Psychology Perspectives

This study aims to analyze and explain leadership styles and their effects on employee welfare and productivity. Through his leadership style, a leader can influence well-being and job satisfaction by paying attention to and meeting the needs of his employees. If employee needs have been met, employees will work as much as possible towards increasing work productivity. Therefore, a leadership style is needed that can affect the welfare and productivity of employees with an Industrial Psychology approach. The method used in this study can be classified as descriptive research, meaning by researching and holding discussions and describing systematically, then looking for relationships from these source data to get a desired conclusion for the solution faced. The results of this study show that a good leadership style and organizational culture can foster commitment in employees. Commitment in the organization is a trigger for organizational success. The role of psychology in psychology is to answer psychological problems by integrating industry and organizations as a practical way to solve problems that arise.

Role of Constructed Environment for Tourism Development: A Global Trend Analysis base on Triangulated Review

The study employs a pragmatic approach to comprehend the constructed environment as a means for propelling tourism industries. Various relevant works of literature are taken into account in analyzing the impact of the constructed environment and its significance to tourism. The objectives of the study are twofold. First, it reviews the constructed environment in detail considering it in three sub-sets. These are the frame; sustenance; and nature. Second, it analyzes the global status of the constructed environment concerning tourism development. The study highlights the research lacuna to draw convincing conclusions about why the constructed environment signifies the growth of the sector. The key takeaway point from the study is the earnest need for a developed constructed environment for development of the industries. The study concludes with suggestive notes to various stakeholders to be conscious enough in understanding tourist psychology, policymaking, and resource management; which will result in economic vitality.