Industrial and Organisational Psychology

 

What is Industrial and Organisational Psychology (IOP)?

The Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology firmly believe that people are the heart and souls of organisations and without them no organisation can be successful.  Our aim is to give insight into the behaviour of people in the workplace and the ability to influence behaviour to improve business functioning, employee well-being and ultimately the bottom line. Our Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management degree has been accredited by the South African Board for People Practises (SABPP); the accreditation ensured that our programme is of the highest quality standards. IOP is the application of psychological principles, theory and research to people at work.

 

What skills are required of an Industrial Psychologist include:

  • The ability to think clearly in stressful situations
  • Good problem-solving skills
  • Excellent communication skills (Industrial Psychologists are required to make presentations to the directors of companies, interview/assess employees as well as write reports to provide feedback to top managers)

Career opportunities in IOP include:

  • Graduates become employed as human resources specialist/generalist practitioners, trainers or managers in industry.  The qualification allows graduates to register with the South African Board for Personnel Practice. Examples of possible careers include:
  • Industrial Psychologist, Psychometrist or Registered Counsellor (postgraduate studies required)
  • Human Resource Manager: Recruitment & Selection, Training & Development, Compensation & Labour Relations
  • Managers in General: Advertising, Marketing & Finance
  • Organisational Consulting & Research: Consumer Behaviour, Compensation & Rewards, Organisational Behaviour, Ergonomics & Labour

Marketable skills gained by obtaining the degree:

  • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
  • Labour Relations
  • Market Research
  • HR-Strategy Formulation
  • Diversity Management
  • Job analysis, descriptions and specifications
  • Compensation (pay and benefits)
  • Recruitment (advertising in various media)
  • Selection (application forms; CV’s; interviewing; psychometric testing)
  • Training and Development (design and delivery of training interventions)
  • Organisational Diagnosis
  • Performance Management
  • Career Counselling and Career Management
  • Management of Occupational Health and Welfare

When students graduate they are able to:

  • Conduct training
  • Provide market and organisational research
  • Manage change
  • Develop individual career plans
  • Design pay structures
  • Use Human Resources Information Systems
  • Manage employment relationships
  • Run small businesses
  • Manage human resources as investments of the firm
  • Understand and interpret South African employment legislation
  • Engage in strategy formulation
  • Lead and communicate
  • Work effectively in groups and teams