Final Project

FINAL PAPER PART 2: CONSULTING PROJECT

DUE ON BLACKBOARD/TURNITIN.COM AT 11:59 P.M. THURSDAY, December 1st, 2020

100 POINTS

Based on your exceptional job analysis, your SME’s employing organization has contacted you to provide a (1) critical assessment of the job’s current state of affairs and (2) suggest appropriate feedback to help improve efficiency and working conditions. Your skills as an I/O psychologist will now be put to the test! For this assignment, you must apply cutting edge theory and findings from I/O psychology to help the organization with the specific job you analyzed. This paper should function as an objective analysis (i.e., not based on your opinion) grounded in material from the class, textbook, and the I/O psychology literature (including at least 6 I/O peer-reviewed journal article citations). This project should contain at least 8 pages of content (not including title page and references), and grammar and APA style will be evaluated.

Formatting must be in 12-point Times New Roman Font with 1-inch tabs. The entire report must be double-spaced and use appropriate APA style.

Answer the following required “Industrial Psychology” prompt (20 points)

**2 pages with at least 2 I/O journal article citations**

1. How are employees selected by the organization? Do they use tests, interviews, and/or application blanks, for example? What KSAOs are currently evaluated in their selection tools (e.g., cognitive ability, personality, interests, values, physical abilities)? What changes would you suggest for improving this job and/or organization’s selection system (e.g., how many individual differences variables and associated assessment tools would you use based on your job analysis and why they are needed for this job using a theoretical rationale; how will you combine scores to select applicants; how would your selection system be validated)? Be sure to define and explain the importance of your identified individual differences variables and consider legal issues associated with your proposed selection system.

Answer 1 of the following “Industrial Psychology” prompts (20 points)

**2 pages with at least 2 I/O journal article citations**

1. What criteria are used to appraise employees’ performance? Why are employees’ performance appraised? How often are they evaluated and by whom? What changes would you suggest for improving this job and/or organization’s performance appraisal system (e.g., what types of criteria would you suggest based on your job analysis and why)?

2. Is there a formal job evaluation that determines pay levels for this job? What changes would you suggest for improving compensation practices for this job and/or organization (e.g., how would you determine this job’s pay based on your job analysis and why)?

3. What kinds of training/development opportunities are part of this job? How effective was the training program? What changes would you suggest for improving this job and/or organization’s training and development (e.g., how could the job analysis inform you of specific training needs, and how would you devise and evaluate a training program)?

Answer 2 of the following “Organizational Psychology” prompts (40 points)

**2 pages with at least 2 I/O journal article citations for each question (4 pages total)**

1. How does your SME’s supervisor motivate his/her employees? What motivation theory best seems to apply? What changes would you suggest for improving motivation in this job and/or organization?

2. What are some of the specific stressors in this job? What changes would you suggest for mitigating this job and/or organization’s stressors and associated strains?

3. Describe some of the various teams that exist in this workplace. What factors affect team performance for this job? What changes would you suggest for improving this job and/or organization’s team performance, commitment, etc.?

4. Which leadership theory best explains the approach your SME’s or SME’s supervisor uses? How is this demonstrated? What changes would you suggest for improving this job and/or organization’s leadership style using prominent theories from I/O?

APA style and grammar (20 points total)

APA STYLE & REFERENCES (_____/10pts)

1. Title page uses correct APA format

2. Headings, margins, and font size are in correct APA format

3. Page numbers and page headers are in correct APA format

4. Reference citations in the manuscript are in correct APA format

5. Reference page is in correct APA format

GRAMMAR, SPELLING, & PUNCTUATION (_____/10pts)

1. Proper English grammar, including sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, etc.

2. Paper is free of spelling and punctuation errors

Extra Credit Opportunity (up to +5 points)

· Write a one-page “executive summary” at the beginning of your report that briefly summarizes:

· (1) the job and organization you analyzed

· (2) your subject matter expert and data collection strategy (i.e., the interview)

· (3) each of your four responses concerning the job’s current state of affairs and your proposed suggestions for improvement

Suggestions

1. Write your responses as we cover each respective topic in class

2. Try to select topics from which you are able to get ample information from the SME

a. If your SME does not have knowledge or access to specific information, use the Internet to find what other organizations typically do with your particular job and comment on those practices

b. Be sure to mention your SME did not have knowledge of the topic, and cite the information you use, though!

3. To receive full credit for each prompt, you must

a. Clearly state what the SME or organization does with the respective topic based on your interview and/or online resources

b. Suggest ways I/O psychology can ameliorate the current system

c. Be sure to consider legal issues where appropriate

d. Be specific, and do not give your personal opinions! Back up your claims with citations from the I/O psychology literature

i. Cite articles from the approved journal list on the following page

ii. You can use your textbook, but it will NOT count toward your 6 required journal article citations

4. The Mental Measures Yearbook (available at http://buros.unl.edu/buros/jsp/search.jsp) may help you find existing selection tools to use

a. Or, you can describe how you would create your own assessment method!

b. Be sure to articulate a rationale for why your suggested assessment methods should be used to assess each individual differences variable identified

5. Use APA style headers to clearly delineate your chosen prompts (e.g., “2. Training and Development”)

6. PARAPHRASE! Do NOT use direct quotes in scholarly writing

7. Do not wait until the last minute to begin!!

Journals That Publish I/O Psychology Research and Theory

The Academy of Management of Review (AMR)

Administrative Science Quarterly (ASQ)

Journal of Applied Psychology (JAP)

Journal of Management (JOM)

Personnel Psychology (P. Psych)

Applied Psychology: An International Review

The Academy of Management Journal (AMJ)

Human Factors

Human Relations

Human Resources Management Review

International Journal of Selection and Assessment

International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Journal of Business and Psychology

Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

Journal of Occupational Health Psychology

Journal of Organizational Behavior (JOB)

Journal of Vocational Behavior

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (OBHDP)

Organizational Research Methods

Leadership Quarterly (LQ)

Human Performance

International Journal of Human Resource Management

Organization Dynamics

Organization Science

Work & Stress

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