Member Input Sought for Strategic Plan

SIOP is in the process of developing its strategic priorities and plans to shape the future of SIOP for the next 3 to 5 years. This is a key initiative for the Executive Board this year, and we want to hear from our members about what our strategic priorities should be.

The current strategic goals were developed in 2019-20 and finalized in 2021. Although many remain relevant and have been useful in guiding SIOP’s work, much has changed since these plans were built. We have seen COVID, the Great Resignation, the current wave of layoffs, AI, significant cuts to the federal workforce, dismantling of DEI initiatives, and cuts to funding for research. The demand for I-O psychologists remains strong. The number of master’s programs and master’s-trained graduates continues to grow, even as doctoral programs are threatened by funding cuts. The breadth and impact of both our research and our applied work continue to expand. I-O psychology is growing rapidly outside the US, most notably in China and India. Social media and technology are creating new opportunities to share our science with policy makers and organizational leaders, and serve our members. Our strategic priorities need to reflect these changes.

We want to hear directly from you about what our strategic priorities should be. What is SIOP doing well? How can we improve? What should be our focus moving forward?

In the weeks ahead, there will be multiple opportunities for members to provide input and participate in the strategic planning work:

• Focus groups. We will be conducting a series of virtual focus groups in the coming weeks. Each session will include 3–6 participants and last approximately 50 minutes. You may receive an email inviting you participate in one of the focus groups. The email will include a link to a site where you can sign up for one of multiple focus group time slots available. Or, if you’d like to volunteer to participate in a focus group, you can go to our SIOP Strategic Planning Focus Group Sign-up site or email us directly at strategicplan@siop.org.
• Email input. If you have suggestions you’d like to make regarding SIOP’s strategic priorities or ways that SIOP can better fulfill its mission and achieve its vision, you can email these to strategicplan@siop.org.
• Member survey. After we compile the focus group and other member input, we will be sending a survey to a sample of SIOP members toward the end of the summer or early fall asking for member reactions to the strategic priorities that have been proposed.

You can follow along with this process on the Strategic Planning Process webpage.

Historically, one of SIOP’s greatest strengths has been member engagement and involvement. Each year, more than 1,000 SIOP members contribute to our shared success by participating on committees, volunteering as mentors and reviewers, presenting at conferences, and so forth. To ensure that we have the right strategic plan for SIOP, your involvement in developing our strategic plan will be key. Thank you in advance for helping shape SIOP’s future and ensure SIOP’s continued success.