A Message From Your President: News From Lake Wobegon
Leaetta Hough
It has been a very busy time in Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average. Indeed, I needed to be strong. I have been incredibly busy trying to keep up with the great work of our leadersthe talented Executive Committee, our dedicated SIOP members, and our superb Administrative Office. I havent even had time to make Jell-O for the potluck dinner held in the basement of our church, Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility. Here is what has kept me so very busy.
A Vision for the Future of SIOP
Where there is no vision, the people perish. Not to worry; we have a vision. We know where we are going.
The September 2005 strategic planning meeting has fundamentally changed SIOP governance and its focus. This, my last column as president of SIOP, describes the vision, values, and goals of SIOP that the Executive Committee has wholeheartedly adopted and embraced.
SIOP Vision: To be recognized as the premier professional group committed to advancing the science and practice of the psychology of work.
Core Values:
- Excellence in education, research, and practice of I-O psychology
- Intellectual integrity and the scientific method
- Maintaining a professional, collegial, and inclusive community through member involvement
- The importance of psychology to the world of work
- Improving the effectiveness of organizations and the well being of individuals in the work force
- The highest ethical standards in research, education, and practice
SIOP Goals: SIOP will become the
1. Visible and trusted authority on work-related psychology. This includes:
- Greater outreach to the broader field of psychology and related disciplines and organizations (including organizations outside the United States), policy makers, the public, and the media.
- Heightened awareness within lay, business, scientific, and government communities of the role and value of I-O psychology in improving productivity and well-being in the workplace.
Some Recent Accomplishments:
- The KARE (Katrina Aid and Relief Effort) committee developed a superb and innovative proposal for the APA conference, so unusual APA initially did not know what to do with it. It has required APA Executive Management Group involvement, but we finally have APA support.
Vicki Vandaveer, the author of the proposal, is leading the KARE volunteers in organizing a MASH-like effort to provide assistance to Katrina victims in the New Orleans area during the APA convention in August 2006. Please learn more about this remarkable effort on the SIOP Web site and join KARE in helping Katrina victims.
- I was invited and did join the FABBS (Foundation for the Advancement of Behavioral and Brain Sciences) board. Its mission is to (a) educate the public about the contributions of psychology to the well being of individuals and society; (b) educate Congressional staff and others in the federal government about our science; and (c) facilitate productive dialogue between scientists and relevant stakeholders in the public and private sectors. I volunteered for a book project, the development of a companion book to accompany introductory psychology books, and have persuaded the other members of the board to devote one or more chapters to I-O contributions. I also volunteered for the Museum and Science Caf project.
- The Awards Committee, chaired by Joyce Bono, established an External Awards Subcommittee, chaired by
Annette Towler. Their mission is to increase SIOPs visibility through promotion and nomination of SIOP members for APA, APS, and APF (American Psychology Foundation) awards.
- The Executive Committee approved use of the SIOP logo and some SIOP intellectual property, with proper acknowledgement, in the
Encyclopedia of I-O Psychology, edited by Steven Rogelberg.
- Dave Nershi (SIOP Executive Director), the Administrative Office (i.e., Larry Nader, Ahmad Awad, and Lori Peake),
James Beaty (chair of the Electronic Communication Committee), the Visibility Committee (i.e.,
Paul Mastrangelo and Chris Rotolo), and the Executive Committee (i.e., Jos
Cortina) have made significant progress on a complete overhaul of our Web site. The new site is scheduled to debut this month.
- While attending SIOPs Leading Edge Consortium last October, George Watts, host of a new Chicago-area radio program, asked me to provide him with names of SIOP members, potential guests on his program. I gave him names of 4050 of you. As I write this,
Gary Latham has already been a guest on the The Business Doctor. Be prepared; George may contact you!
- The Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Human Performance, and
International Journal of Selection and Assessment now require authors to submit a media summary that explains in lay language the purpose, findings, and meaning of their study. Thank you,
Shelly Zedeck, Ann Marie Ryan, Jim Farr, Wally Borman, Deniz Ones, and
Jess Salgado. This was one of many ideas from the APA Science Leadership Conference that Shelly, Ann Marie, and I attended in December.
- Rhea Farberman, executive editor of the APA Monitor, provided media training to the Executive Committee prior to our January meeting in Washington, DC. It was excellent.
- Rhea will provide the same training to interested SIOP members at our spring conference in Dallas. Please take advantage of this training. It is a valuable skill.
2. Advocate and champion of I-O psychology to policy makers. This includes:
- Increased efforts to obtain federal funding for I-O research.
- Increased efforts to monitor and influence policy and legislation affecting human behavior at work.
- Heightened awareness among top managers in business about the value of I-O psychology and I-O professionals.
Some Recent Accomplishments:
- We gained a fifth seat on the APA Council of Representatives, an important arena in which we can advocate for an I-O perspective. We are one of two APA divisions growing in number and influence. Thank you!
- We have been vigorously promoting the I-O perspective in several licensure issues. We contacted several APA officials and APA committee and task force members regarding proposed changes in APA licensure policies. Our APA Council Representatives,
Bill Macey, Bob Dipboye, Deirdre Knapp, Ed Salas, and Janet Barnes-Farrell, have been actively educating our clinical colleagues of the different perspective of nonhealthcare providers. We have communicated with the California Board of Psychology and initiated a letter-writing campaign to inform them of the harsh impact their proposed changes will have on nonhealthcare providers in that state.
Judy Blanton has been very active!
- The Executive Committee voted to join the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences on a trial basis for 1 year. Its mission focuses on (a) advocating and lobbying with legislative and regulatory bodies for Federation members; (b) fostering effective interactions between public and private funding agencies and Federation members; (c) linking expert resources (Federation members) with Congressional staffers and agency officials to educate and thereby influence legislation and policy; and (d) to create channels of communication with the media, the general public, educational groups, and other scientific groups. We expect our participation will result in greater awareness of I-O issues by various federal constituencies and increased visibility among our colleagues, many of whom are unaware of the science of I-O psychology.
- APA provided advocacy training for the Executive Committee at our January meeting.
- APA is providing advocacy training for SIOP members at the conference in Dallas. Deirdre Knapp, along with Eduardo Salas, are working with APA staffers to tailor the training for SIOP members.
3. Organization of choice of I-O professionals. This includes:
- Increased enjoyment and satisfaction of members.
- More members in all categories, including regular, Student, International, Affiliate, and Associate Members.
- Higher annual retention rate.
- Increased support for SIOP members in their efforts to study, apply, and teach the principles, findings, and methods of I-O psychology.
Some Recent Accomplishments:
- The Executive Committee voted to have its governance activities open and transparent to all SIOP members. Executive Committee minutes, committee reports, cluster reports, and presidential reports are now on the SIOP Web site where all members can access them.
- The Executive Committee has proposed a bylaw change to the membership that would eliminate one of the many barriers our international colleagues face when they want to be a member of SIOP, namely they must belong to either
APA, APS, or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) to be considered for membership in SIOP. The proposed bylaw change adds the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology
(EAWOP) as a qualifying membership organization for prospective SIOP members and updates the bylaws language concerning CPA. Please vote yes during the plenary session when the bylaw changes are presented for your vote.
- Wendy Becker initiated a Junior Faculty Workshop; its inauguration is May 4th, the day before our spring conference. It is a forum for discussing topics of mutual interest to junior faculty, especially those related to the tenure process and starting and maintaining an independent stream of research.
- The Administrative Office has put the SIOP directory of members online. It is fully operational and accessible to members. Try it; it works very well.
- The International Committee, at the time chaired by Sharon Arad, initiated an International Caf for the spring conference. It is a 1-hour welcome forum for international members, developed in response to our international members expressed desire to have more opportunities to network informally in small groups with U.S. and other international members. It is scheduled May 5 prior to the plenary session.
4. Model of integrated scientistpractitioner effectiveness that values research, practice, and education equally and seeks higher standards in all three areas.
- Increased collaboration and dialogue between academics and practitioners where science informs practice and practice informs science.
- Increased collaboration and exchange of ideas with non-North American I-O professionals.
- Decreased perception of fissure between academics and practitioners.
- Clear and rigorous means of evaluating the quality of graduate training programs.
- Clear and rigorous standards for practice.
Some Recent Accomplishments:
- SIOPs first Leading Edge Consortium, Leadership at the Top: Selection, Globalization, and Ethics of Executive Talent was held in October 2005 and heralded as highly successful. Look for the Leading Edge and Beyond mini-track at the spring conference in Dallas.
Fritz Drasgow, SIOP Past President and General Chair of this years Leading Edge Consortium, along with
Cindy McCauley and Ben Dowell, Science and Practice Chairs respectively, are well along in their planning for this years ConsortiumTalent Attraction, Development, and Retention: The Leading Edgescheduled October 2728 at the Park Hotel in Charlotte, NC.
The mission of the Leading Edge Consortiums is to bring leading-edge scientists and practitioners together in the quest for better individual and organizational outcomes. The consortiums are relevant to three of our four goalsincreased visibility, increased membership and member satisfaction, and sciencepractice integration.
- The Executive Committee endorsed the creation of a SIOP journal in September 2005. We developed selection factors for the position of founding editor, solicited applications, evaluated the applicant statements, vita, and letters of recommendation, and named
Paul Sackett founding editor of SIOPs new journal, tentatively titled
INTERACTION: An Exchange of Perspectives on the Science and Practice of I-O Psychology. The mission of the new journal is to advance our science and practice and strengthen the interaction between science and practice. As one SIOP member said If this journal were to ONLY: (a) increase communication between scientist and practitioner communitiesit would be a huge benefit to the field. Great step forward, and thanks.
- Nik Chmiel, president of EAWOP, and I have been communicating about the desirability of strengthening the relationship between our two organizations. Nik will address SIOP members at the plenary session May 5 in Dallas.
- I met with SIOPSA (SIOP South Africa) chair, Aletta Odendall, at our conference last year in Los Angeles at which time Aletta expressed interest in strengthening the relationship between SIOP and
SIOPSA. Recently, they invited me to be a keynote speaker at their June 2006 conference in Pretoria. Unfortunately, I have another speaking engagement at the same time as their conference.
Lois Tetrick has graciously volunteered to represent SIOP.
Society members and the Administrative Office accomplish many noteworthy activities on a routine basis, and other columns in this issue of
TIP describe many activities SIOP and its members are vigorously undertaking and accomplishing. Virtually all of these activities relate to one or more of our strategic objectives.
Adrienne Colella, Member-at-Large, and I are developing a complete list of the programs and activities, organized according to our strategic goals, that we as a Society undertake. This evolving list is available on the SIOP Web site.
New Processes, Procedures, and Programs to Accomplish our
Goals This Year and in the Years Ahead
- Our January Executive Committee agenda items were organized around our strategic goals. Future agendas will be organized similarly.
- Executive Committees decision making now consciously takes into account how the subject at hand advances SIOPs strategic objectives.
- John Cornwell, SIOP Treasurer, and Dave Nershi, SIOP Executive Director, redesigned our Committee Report forms, including goal setting and progress report forms, to address explicitly how the activities support and further the strategic goals of the Society.
- We will have a new orientation for new committee chairs that focuses on SIOPs strategic goals.
- We have institutionalized the planning of the Leading Edge Consortium, including the (a) transition of the past president to the general chair of the consortium; (b) composition of the task force that identifies and selects the topic as well as the practice and science co-chairs; and (c) composition of the committee that identifies speakers and plans the consortium. The process and procedures now in place will help ensure continuation and continuity of the Leading Edge Consortium.
- The Administrative Office developed a Disaster Recovery Plan that includes recovery activities associated with a disaster in the greater Bowling Green, OH area, the SIOP office, the site of the spring conference, the site of the fall Leading Edge Consortium, and computer and Internet meltdowns. The plan is on the SIOP Web site.
- Candidates for SIOP elected office now prepare statements about their objectives for their tenure. These statements are posted on the SIOP Web site and, when appropriate, the APA Web site.
Strategic PlanningYour Input
The member survey that was distributed in February 2006 contained questions asking about your opinions of the vision, values, and goals identified during the September 2005 strategic planning meeting. We will use your responses to refine our thinking and planning.
In Closing
Ive enjoyed the challenges and rewards of this past year. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great organization. Farewell, my friends.
We are thriving and growing. We do know where we are going!
Now, I need to get back to making that Jell-O.
April 2006 Table
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