April 2021 Newsletter
Updates
This Works in My Place! (Latin America)
What is “This Works in my Place!”?
It is an IAAP (Division 1) project to identify - through participation and dialogue with researchers and practitioners in different regions around the world - the regional contextual factors that give inputs to Work and Organizational Psychology (WOP) in achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Why is “This Works in my Place!” based on a contextualized approach?
A real dialogue requires the consideration of particularities, cultural values, and the history of countries. In other words, dialogue between countries could be characterized in a contextualized approach. The dissemination of best values and the achievement of a better life for all considers the context where these goals are translated into specific strategies and practices. If contextual factors are not considered, efforts can produce limited positive consequences.
What United Nations goals are considered in “This Works in my Place!”?
The United Nations has established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/) to achieve a better and sustainable world for all in 2030. The Work and Organizational Psychology (WOP) discipline, with the support of the IAAP, can help to achieve these goals, especially those related to “no poverty”, “good health and well-being”, “gender equality”, “decent work” and “innovation”. In fact, WOP research and practice is increasingly interested in these topics.
Why did “This Works in my Place!” start in Latin America?
We started the project in Latin America because IAAP organized the Centennial Congress in Mexico. This was an opportunity to work with researchers and practitioners within the region. Unfortunately, the Congress was cancelled due to the situation created by Covid-19. Nevertheless, the project continues in Latin America remotely.
What steps were taken in “This Works in my Place!” (Latin America)?
The main actions completed to-date include:
- We organized a meeting with a group of Work and Organizational Psychologists from Latin America (Torino, Italy, 2019, https://iaapsy.org/divisions/division1/this-works-in-my-place-wop-sustainable-leader-program-latin-america/) for the diagnosis of relevant contextual factors in the region to achieve the selected United Nation Goals.
- Based on this information, we prepared the “progress report” (https://iaapsy.org/site/assets/files/1853/progress_report_2019_this_works_in_my_place_latin_america_for_sharing.pdf)
- We disseminated the information in a video (https://iaapsy.org/about/centennial-year/) and a power point presentation (https://iaapsy.org/site/assets/files/2153/presentation.pdf) within the activities to celebrate the centennial of IAAP.
- Officers of Division 1 (IAAP) and the group of experts from Latin America cooperated to design the tools for implementing a Delphi Methodology to identify relevant WOP strategies and practices to achieve the selected United Nations goals, considering the Latin America contextual factors.
What are the next steps in “This Works in my Place!”?
The next actions to be carried out on the project are:
- Collate additional information from the implementation of the Delphi Methodology to identify relevant WOP strategies and practices to achieve the selected United Nations goals, considering the Latin America contextual factors. To this end, a larger group of experts from Latin America will participate.
- Preparation and dissemination of the final report “This Works in my Place!”(Latin America)
- Extension of the project to Asian countries in alignment with the IAAP Congress in Beijing, China (July 2022) (http://www.icap2022.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=lists&catid=39)
Member Spotlight
Congratulations to David Chan who was included on the list of the top 1% of scientists in the world! The listing was compiled by researchers at Stanford University: https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.3000384&fbclid=IwAR3CvJYmm-ZJ36SHKWE_sC7w8gmIYe6GJY_H1JDDHAYVl_ubF7ieO4QqRRE
David Chan has also published a book on Covid-19 in July 2020. It is the first book published on the psychology of Covid-19 and focuses on the Singapore context. It is a bestseller in the publisher’s list and also in Singapore bookstores. The book was cited in Singapore Parliamentary Debates regarding strategies on recovering and emerging stronger from Covid-19.
Book information:
Chan, D. (2020). COMBATING A CRISIS: The Psychology of Singapore's Response to COVID-19. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing.
Information link: COMBATING A CRISIS: The Psychology of Singapore's Response to COVID-19.
Interview: https://smu.sg/jcw
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/AptmBxjjk74
Please let us know if you were also on the list so we can feature you in an upcoming edition of the newsletter! Send your updates, information, and correspondence to our Communications Officer, Lynda Zugec at lynda.zugec@theworkforceconsultants.com
