Administrative Year in Review

David Nershi
SIOP Executive Director

Several important accomplishments marked the 2006–2007 administrative year. Led by President Jeff McHenry, important strides were made in the areas of strategic planning and programming.

Work began on a SIOP strategic plan in 2005, and efforts this year were successful in developing significant initiatives based on the goals from that plan. In September a special strategic planning meeting was held in conjunction with the Executive Committee. Teams of “champions” focused on developing meaningful initiatives for each of the four strategic goals (visibility, advocacy, membership value, and science and practice). A total of 14 main initiatives were developed and have been assigned to various committees and work groups for completion.  Among the initiatives are:

• To define the integrated science–practice model for I-O psychology and identify relevant behavioral guidelines.
• To recognize science–practice collaborations through an annual award for effective science–practice team efforts.
• To hire a marketing, public relations, or publicist firm in order to promote I-O psychology and SIOP and heighten the awareness and value of I-O psychology to multiple constituencies, including the media, other psychologists, and the business community.
• To both positively influence APA staff to help serve our needs and to positively influence APA members to result in APA policies that better reflect our interests.
• To develop membership metrics in order to increase our understanding of who our membership is in order to create a foundation to enact initiatives based on data rather than assumptions.
• To enhance organizational inclusion, increasing the feeling of SIOP as a welcoming, inclusive, transparent organization through a variety of mechanisms.

Members will be able to check on the progress of these initiatives by going to SIOP Solutions on our Web site. This new Web application will allow project leaders to upload updates on their work, keeping the project team and the membership apprised of their efforts.

Another important endeavor was launched in September. A Governance Review Task Force, under the guidance of Kurt Kraiger, was charged with revisiting the structure of SIOP governance to determine the best structure to align with strategic goals and to be nimble and responsive to member needs. The task force has been staffed and the group has begun their research.

The work of another task force is certain to have a positive effect for years to come. The Conference Program Advance Task Force, chaired by Steven Rogelberg, developed a 5-year plan for the conference program. The group was created at the request of President Jeff McHenry in anticipation of the change from a 2 ½-day conference to a 3-day conference in 2008. The group’s work was presented and approved by the Executive Committee in February.

Among the changes to be seen next year is the introduction of Thursday and Saturday theme tracks. For each theme there will be a full day of coherent programming including invited speakers. The narrow, actionable themes will reflect a cutting-edge topic or trend and will appeal to members with both a research and practice emphasis. The conference will conclude with a major keynote address, and an all-conference special reception will be planned for Saturday night. Additional information on the changes for the 2008 conference in San Francisco is forthcoming.

Work continues on our new journal. The journal project, with a unique interactive exchange format, has been moving forward under the guidance of Editor Paul Sackett. Plans call for the publication of the journal to begin in 2008. Various proposals from publishers were reviewed and a recommendation presented to the Executive Committee in February. A number of details concerning the launch are being worked on before arrangements are finalized.

Other highlights of the administrative year include:

• A successful 2nd Annual Leading Edge Consortium, held in Charlotte, with the topic of Talent Attraction, Development and Retention: The Leading Edge. Thanks to Chair Fritz Drasgow and co-chairs Ben Dowell and Cindy McCauley. The 3rd Annual Leading Edge Consortium is scheduled October 25–27 at the InterContinental Kansas City on the Plaza. Chair for the event is Leaetta Hough.
• The KARE (Katrina Aid and Relief Effort) program resulted in the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership naming SIOP to its 2007 Associations Advance America Honor Roll. The award recognizes associations that develop programs that move America forward with innovative projects, skills training, standards setting, business and social innovation and community service. SIOP was joined by the Society of Consulting Psychology in mobilizing nearly 50 volunteer I-O and consulting psychologists to help hurricane-affected businesses recover or rebuild.
• Members Mike Burke and Dave Hoffman were recognized as Decade of Behavior winners. The Decade of Behavior is a multidisciplinary initiative to focus the talents, energy, and creativity of the behavioral and social sciences on meeting many of the society’s most significant challenges. Mike and Dave made their presentations at a congressional briefing in October.

Thanks to the Executive Committee members, committee chairs, committee members and other volunteers who contributed to this year’s success. We’re counting on you to sustain the momentum in the year ahead.