The SIOP Exchange

Competency Modeling

By Tom Stone, SIOP Blogger

Hello, I’m Tom Stone, Professor of Management at Oklahoma State University.

Competency modeling (CM) has fascinated me for several years although my initial reactions were skeptical.  Indeed, when I first learned about CM, I thought it might be the latest example of Marv Dunnette’s classic article, “Fads, fashions and folderol in psychology”, American Psychologist, 1966. However, CM appears to be well beyond a fad and may be challenging traditional job analysis (TJA) as the most preferred method of work analysis.

If CM is still a fuzzy concept for you, as it was for me for some time, I’d recommend two articles and one chapter.

A Quiet Revolution

By Karin Soweid, SIOP Blogger

Recently, on a flight to Boston, I found myself immersed in thought about the psychological preferences that are categorized and defined by the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.  I suppose this is what one does with their ‘off time’ when they are immersed in a doctoral program in industrial-organizational psychology.  In parallel with the hum of the engines, I quietly reflected, acknowledging how many times I have taken this assessment tool over the past eight years and my subsequently varying four-letter outcomes during vastly different life experiences in that timeframe.  I couldn’t help but remark and marvel at how these considerable transitions in preference underscore a woman in her doctoral journey. 

Hiring Employees Focused on the Bottom Line: Is This the Right Strategy?

By Josh Denton, SIOP Blogger

Recently, I gave ideas to a journalist writing how applicants can demonstrate they are concerned with the bottom line. Granted, people will be concerned about customer service, teamwork, and doing an overall good job. However, the journalist’s angle was informing job seekers how to be seen as bottom-line applicants. Examples he provided were an employee whose role is computer work, but helping other departments by using a forklift, and a CEO modeling good behavior by using public transportation. However, I think this mindset misses a few crucial points.

Washington Post Discusses Wal-Mart vs. Dukes

The Washington Post "Conversations"  series posted a conversation this week discussing the Wal-Mart vs. Dukes case that has made headlines recently. Arguments in the case regarding discrimination against female workers at Wal-Mart began March 29. Marcia Greenberger of the National Women's Law Center and products liability defense attorney Matthew Cairns debated the case on The Washinton Post website here.

Questions discussed int he article revolve around numerous workplaces issues, such as the causes of differing pay between men and women:

"How is a fair average pay differential arrived at between men and women when women have shorter average length of employment because of a percentage that change to stay at home moms etc.? It seems like if one group by their own choice have different career statistics that would skew their average wage because of higher wages being related to longer length of service."

To read the answers given by Greenberger and Cairns, read the full story here. 

 

Evaluation Week Begins!

This week, SIOP is collaborating with the American Evaluation Association (AEA) on a set of joint blog posts for the SIOP Exchange and the aea365 tip-a-day alerts blog on the topic of evaluation and I-O psychology. Throughout the week, we will hear from SIOP experts in the field of evaluation on topics ranging from personnel evaluation to international management. Stayed tuned ot the SIOP exchange every day this week for a new post!

Read President Eduardo Salas' introductory post below. Then, read SIOP Member E. Jane Davidson's post on personnel evaluation.