Myers-Briggs

We discussed in class that the Myers Briggs Personality Type Indicator is frequently used in human resources approaches to organizations to help people figure out how they fit in to the organization. The results of the test are also used to help people work together more effectively.

The are several short forms of the test available free on the Internet. The longer form is more reliable and valid but the short form often gives a good idea of your tendencies. Have fun.

http://www.personalitytest.net/types/index.htm

Tell us what you are. I consistently score out an an INTP but I'm border line on the a couple of the factors.

Systems

The systems approach to organizations emphasizes the whole while still looking at the parts. Too often in our lives we become too concerned with one part of our lives while disregarding everything else. We can concentrate on problems we are having without thinking about the blessings.

Reflect for a few moments and think about how everything in your life fits together.

The International Society for Systems Science has an online primer which can help you understand general systems theory. While communications scholars use general systems theory to help describe organizations there has been comparatively little predictive work done using this paradigm. One of the earliest theories in communication Claude Shannon's Information Theory later discussed by Warren Weaver is a product of systems theory.

Blake and Mouton

Blake and Mouton devised a simple questionnaire for determining managerial style. Go to the leadership questionnaire and see what type of manager you are. Do you agree? Have you ever been a manager?

Maslow

Seems that in communication courses we are enamoured with Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Look in almost any textbook on communication whether the subject is an introductory fundamentals text, public speaking, persuasion, group discussion, mass communication, public relations, or organizational communication an Maslow is mentioned. In many of the text the theory is simply presented with no reference to its efficacy.

Rarely is there an adequate description of what is meant by self-actualization or how to motivate people to self-actualization. Motivation is subject to so many individual differences that theories of human needs like Maslow's just not seem to be very effective in predicting human behavior.

The entire human relations approach to motivation has come under question because the base theories are weak when it comes to predictive ability. Check out this brief article on Maslow by Huitt for some insight and additional references. Note this depiction of the hierarchy includes a level beyond self-actualization label transcendence.

Humans indeed have needs but has our conceptualization psychological needs helped or hindered our understanding of motivation?

Industrial Psychology

While doing some reading about the human relations approach to organizations I came across the term industrial psychology. I remember hearing this term when I was younger but I haven't heard it very often in recent years. I just find it interesting how terminology changes. I wonder what caused the change?