The digital-era industrial/organisational psychologist: Employers’ view of key service roles, skills and attributes

Abstract

Orientation: The nature of the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s technology-driven work and business profoundly alters the foundational assumptions upon which industrial/organisational (I/O) psychologists in future will base their understanding of their professional roles in the modern workplace.

Research purpose: The objective of the study was to gain deeper insight into South African employers’ views of the service roles, skills and attributes of the future-fit digital-era I/O psychologist.

Motivation for the study: More research is needed on the service roles, skills and attributes that employers require from I/O psychologists as companies are transitioning to technology-enabled hybrid and flexible models of work.

Research approach/design and method: The study utilised a qualitative research approach. An open-ended question survey was conducted amongst (N = 14) executives and human resource managers of South African companies. Thematic analysis was utilised to analyse the collected data.

Main findings: The data analysis revealed a shift toward key technology-enabled service roles and several intradigital, interdigital, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills and attributes that employers require the digital-era I/O psychologist to bring to the digital-driven workplace.

Practical/managerial implications: Digitally dexterous I/O psychologists should be at the forefront of technology and its impact on workplaces and the profession’s scope of practice.

Contributions/value-add: The study adds to the Industrial/Organisational Psychology research literature and reveals the dire need for I/O psychologists to adapt and evolve their scope of practice services and products to ensure the continued relevance of the IOP profession.