Organisational psychology at work

We have often heard that human resources are Malta’s strongest asset, yet companies are not aware enough of the importance of safeguarding and training their staff.

A new NGO, to be launched tomorrow, aims to promote the value of working with employees through the science and evidence-based application of work and organisational psychology.

The Malta Association of Work and Organisational Psychology (MAWOP) will focus on the performance of people at work, training, how organisations function and how individuals and small groups behave at work.

Organisation president Vincent Cassar said that, all too often, organisational psychology was confused with human resources. The basic difference was that this branch of psychology used scientifically proven principles and the study of people’s behaviour to achieve results.

For example, organisational psychology could prepare workers within a company to gear up for a major change and ensure they were not daunted by the experience.

Human behaviour teaches that accepting change is not always easy and people need guidance and preparation.

“Today, organisations’ take in the market share is no longer as protected as it was in the past and the input of each person, and their well-being, has become even more valuable,” Dr Cassar said.

“It is about helping the most important asset, your workers, to understand their position within the company and realise their potential. In so doing you also realise the objectives of the organisation while ensuring workers’ well-being,” he said.

The association will promote the field of work and organisational psychology and provide a forum for discussion, dissemination of research findings, debate, professional and social networking between organisational psychologists and other related professions interested in this field.

Dr Cassar stressed that MAWOP was not intended to be another representative body for psychologists and members were welcome from various areas.

The association applied to be Malta’s first constituent member within the European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology.

For more information visit http://mawop.org .