Business Psychologist, Research Paper Example

As a business psychologist, I would contribute to the business world through organizational development. Organizational development and the management of change are issues that affect most businesses in the modern world. This would entail an examination of the interaction of people in business, which would involve the informal and formal groups. The work culture and climate would also be examined. The other factors that would be addressed include organizational design. This would be in an attempt to increase the effectiveness within organizations using applied behavioral sciences.

The contributions made in organizational development as a business psychologist would differ from those of an individual with an M.B.A or a person with business training. This is because the intention would be to address some of the complex goals that affect organizational development in the business field. One of the issues that will be addressed includes intergroup development. This addresses the group-to-group working relationships that are formed in organizations. The operating tensions that exist between groups will be explored and identified. The intention will be to enhance joint problem solving activities in the business field. Some of the behavioral science studies will be used to help competing groups solve their problems through resolution using the different intergroup procedures.

The other aspect will be to evaluate organizational goal settings. This issue is critical to every manager in every organization. It involves movement from team areas to problems that need commitment. The problems include union management relations, cost control, safety, overall profit improvement, and promotion policies for the business. Goal setting in organizational development is an aspect that will help increase commitment within the organization eliminating resistance to change in the organization.

There are challenges that may be experienced because of studying with people from different backgrounds. These may be because of cultural differences. Studying with people from diverse cultures can result to cultural shock. This is normally characterized by euphoria because it means interacting with new people from different backgrounds. The other challenges are increased hostility and irritation from other students. This results when students concentrate more on the dissimilarities that exist between them and other students. This causes enthusiasm to turn into anger, frustration, irritation and depression because people feel different.

Other than cultural shocks, the other challenges experienced when studying with students from other backgrounds include increased discrimination. Students from different background suffer from stereotyping because of discrimination. This may be based on race, religion or economic status. This causes students not to take part in school functions such as extracurricular events, musical concerts, or sporting events. Such students also fear approaching other students for help when they have problems with their studies. Stereotyping causes students from other backgrounds to feel unwanted resulting to increased tension between students.

Language barriers between students are the other problem that might be experienced while studying or working with people from different backgrounds. Language barriers between students from different backgrounds make it difficult for students to work in groups. Students find this stressful because of the fear of being criticized by other students from other backgrounds. For example, students who do not understand English well might fear working in groups with other students. This is because criticism makes them feel that they add little value to the group assignments. This makes such students not to participate actively in class work.

Some of the contributions that can be made when one interacts with people from different backgrounds include being tolerant. This may involve trying to understand different people their cultures and their backgrounds. Tolerance helps such people because it makes them feel wanted, and they feel part of the community. Tolerance is also likely to increase friendship between people from different backgrounds causing them to be open-minded. This will make it easy for such students to adjust. While interacting with such people it may be necessary that people familiarize themselves with their backgrounds.  When interacting with such people, for example, students from different cultures it might be necessary for one to show interest in their culture. This may increase self-esteem in such people making them confident and they are likely to feel wanted. When interacting with people from other backgrounds it is crucial to listen to them. Making assumptions about an individual from another background is likely to result to increased differences. In case of a language barrier, it is essential that the person from the other background be taught the necessary language in a friendly manner.

Studying or working with people from different backgrounds depicts diversity. While interacting with a person from another background, it is essential that people examine the moral advantages that are brought about by such differences. This involves respecting such people’s cultures, religion, opinions, and practices. To manage diversity, it is essential that people examine it as a source of strength. While interacting with such individuals, it is essential to make them feel wanted. This will help them to deal with the challenges they face because of their backgrounds.