Perfect Fit

Industrial organisational psychology is nearing 100 years of existence; it is interesting to follow its evolution in response to changing work environments.

Large-scale experiments post the industrial revolution and the evolution of the modern knowledge industry have led to the need for scientific ways to identify, recruit, and manage workforce. Recent technological advances, increased globalisation, virtual work, and technology enabled work culture have fostered the need and possibility of different forms of assessments. Employee development, happiness, health, and work-life balance now receive serious attention along with a marked emphasis on employee productivity.

Psychometrics is gaining importance in the industrial setting to measure such psychological variables, along with measuring skills, abilities, and application of knowledge. These assessments include written, aptitude, physical, psychomotor, personality, integrity and reliability tests, work samples, and simulation. Such assessments also reflect individual differences among candidates (who seek employment) as well as differences among employees.

Adoption of psychometric assessments

The use of assessments for hiring and workforce development has received attention in the US. Other mature markets such as the UK too have adopted it—all schools, most hospitals, and around 70% of the companies with over 50 employees use these tests. Companies spend millions of dollars every year on these tests which measure personality types, learning styles, and personal preferences of their employees.