Closer look at staff minds

The growth of interest in industrial and organisational (I/O) psychology reflects a shift towards organisations thinking critically about human resources. Investment in social and intellectual capital is increasingly being viewed as a way of attaining positive organisational outcomes.

The editors of this series on I/O psychology, Cary Cooper and Ivan Robertson, explain that the sub-discipline originated with the desire to make better decisions about people at work. In the past ten years, we have seen a growth in the number of personnel and human resources practitioners interested in this aspect. I/O psychology stands out because of its emphasis on scientifically grounded theory and research.

The books are made up of articles from the International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology , edited by Cooper and Robertson. An integrative chapter in each book by the editors would have been useful in signposting developments, and consideration of material from other journals may have provided a richer pool of contributions. Having said this, the papers are comprehensive.

One strength of these books is their international focus. The contributors are leading scholars from countries including Australia, Canada and Israel. Furthermore, the series combines analysis at the level of the individual, group and organisation.

The collection includes many contributions on cutting-edge issues. A chapter by Jone Pearce and Gary Henderson focuses on violations of expectations held by the employee about the employer-employee relationship. Ronald Burke and Debra Nelson examine the redefinition of men's role as they become increasingly not just "breadwinners" but fathers and employees engaged in non-work activities. Russell Cropanzano and Jerald Greenberg look at organisational justice as a determinant of commitment, turnover and citizenship behaviour that can be applied to enhance personnel selection processes, help prevent theft and resolve conflicts. Contributions such as these can be used to expose the untapped potential of human resources.

Kate Reynolds is lecturer in social and organisational psychology, Australian National University, Canberra.