INTEREST GROUPS

Interest Group Overview

The Interest Group for the Systems Psychodynamics of Organisations (IGSPO) was founded in 2013 by Professor Frans Cilliers to create awareness of the nature, role and importance of studying the systemic unconscious dynamics affecting organisational behaviour. A further goal of IGSPO is to create opportunities for SIOPSA members and South African organisations to become informed and gain competence in organisational consulting and coaching below the surface of consciousness. This is important in authorising psychologists and organisational consultants to include working with unconscious behaviour in their practices.

IGSPO specifically targets the following fields of psychology:

• Systems psychodynamics (as born from open systems theory, psychoanalysis and group relations theory)
• Organisational behaviour
• Organisational development (OD) and Institutional Transformation (IT)

This interest group is open to be joined by any member of SIOPSA – especially for members who are curious about the unconscious, not-so-rational dynamics of organisations! We have, since our founding, presented an Annual Systems Psychodynamic Workshop at the St. Georges Hotel, which combined here-and-now experiential work with theoretical and reflective sessions. These annual workshops have been directed by Prof Frans Cilliers. We have also presented regional workshops in different parts of South Africa in order to make our work accessible to SIOPSA members countrywide.

Why Join (Benefits and Opportunities)

Joining IGSPO is a great way of connecting to a community of I/O Psychologists who desire to continuously approve our ability as consultants, coaches, managers, leaders and teachers to also work with the deeper-lying, often unconscious dynamics permeating our client institutions, our own practices and the broader society within which we live and work.

How to join?

To join, please contact IGSPO’s Secretary, Louise Tonelli: leyl@unisa.ac.za

Interest Group Overview

People Assessments in Industry (PAI) was established in 1998 to proactively engage various stakeholders interested in psychological assessment in South African industry.  PAI has functioned as an interest group of the Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology in South Africa since 2005. The group’s activities include promoting fair assessments in the workplace, with the primary aim being to be generally recognised as the leading organisation in the continuing promotion of fair assessment in the workplace to which people will automatically refer for assessment expertise and knowledge. The importance of such an interest group in South Africa is clear with regards to the legislative challenges around testing practices as well as the lack of clear communication and strong working relationships between relevant stakeholders.

VISION AND PURPOSE:

The purpose of PAI is to ensure psychometric assessments and testing exists in the South African organisational context as a value adding ethical and fair practice.

 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE:

To provide best practice guidelines, guidance and updates to all relevant assessment stakeholders as it relates to the ethical and fair use of psychometric assessments and testing in organisational contexts.

Which field of psychology does the interest group target?

The PAI targets all fields of psychology with a focus on Industrial/Organisational/Research Psychology and Psychometrics, but also Clinical Psychology.

What are the goals of the interest group?

• Promoting fair psychometric assessment and testing practices in the workplace,
• Being generally recognised as the leading organisation in the continuing promotion of fair psychometric assessment and testing in the workplace to which people will automatically refer for assessment expertise and knowledge.

PAI acts as an independent body but seeks to build relationships and to collaborate with such bodies as the:

• Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA),
• Association of Test Publishers (ATP),
• Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA)
• Assessment Centre Study Group of South Africa (ACSG),
• The International Test Commission (ITC),
• Business SA, test users and test takers who have similar interests with regards to assessments in the workplace.

What are some interesting things the interest group has accomplished?

Between 2018 and 2020, PAI was instrumental in the establishment of Assessment Standards South Africa (ASSA). ASSA comprises representatives from the Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology (SIOPSA) and its interest group People Assessments in Industry (PAI), Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) Association of Test Publishers (ATP) and the International Test Commission (ITC).  ASSA is an independent non-regulatory external assessments evaluation ‘body’ working collaboratively with the support of the Department of Labour and the HPCSA to assist in implementing a robust, best practice and technology enabled process that could be used to review people assessment instruments and tests.  It is envisaged that this body will look at the broad spectrum of instruments that are used in South Africa and will not be limited to psychological tests only. In cases where an instrument meets the criteria for test classification as a psychological test, the applicants will be informed accordingly about submitting the test for classification to the HPCSA as per the statutory requirements. The core purpose of Assessment Standards South Africa (ASSA) would be to review the quality of tests that are available for use in South Africa.  Based on the experience in other countries the voluntary submission of assessment instruments for objective evaluation and reviews will raise the general standard and awareness of using quality tests. 

ASSA is currently developing an online system that will be used for the ASSA process, using the clear process and criteria guidelines contained in the developed documents. The online system is currently being used as a part of a pro bono pilot with invited ATP test publishers submitting tests for review and providing feedback on the system and process. It is anticipated that the online review system will go ‘live’ for public use in early 2021.  Visit the ASSA website here: www.assa.co.za.

During 2020, PAI also released a survey to obtain an understanding of the current assessment landscape in South Africa. The survey covered areas to understand how practitioners are managing with Covid-19 and to also obtain an understanding of the legislative knowledge of Assessment practitioners and possible gaps. Furthermore, the survey also sought to obtain the views of Psychometrists as it pertains to their current profession, use of assessments and their professional needs in the South African environment and to identify areas that PAI can add value to the profession. The results of the survey will be presented to the public by way of a thought leadership piece and webinar during early 2021.

During 2020 PAI also hosted a webinar in collaboration with the University of Cape Town by Professor Nathan Kuncel during June entitled ‘Predictors and Process in Selection Decision Making’.

During the 2019 PsySSA and SIOPSA conferences, two round table discussions were held during which representatives of ASSA presented the aim of ASSA and progress on the documents developed (process and criteria guidelines). Members of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) also participated in these sessions upon invitations from ASSA. The review documents were distributed to all members of the various professional bodies and stakeholders involved in psychological assessment for their feedback and input. The process guidelines and criteria documents were updated and finalised using feedback from members, stakeholders and other interested parties. Feedback was generally very positive and appreciative of the thoroughness and clarity of the process and criteria.

During 2019 PAI also launched a highly successful Masterclass entitled ‘Technological Advances in Assessments & the changing role of Assessment Practitioners’. This Masterclass provided insight on the next generation of assessments, clarity on legislative changes and guidance to practitioners on the correct and ethical use of assessments within the South African environment. PAI were invited to present this workshop at the 40th Annual ACSG Conference that was held from 9 – 13 March 2020 at the Hilton in Sandton, South Africa.

The aim was also to run regional workshops across the country through SIOPSA regional groups. However, given the current Covid-19 situation, a decision was made to hold a virtual webinar for all who would be interested in attending. Our chairperson, David Bischof, presented this webinar to a sold-out audience on the 20th March and we thank everyone for their attendance and input.

A PAI breakfast was held on the Monday 7th May 2018 at University of Pretoria. The breakfast session served as a follow-on from the PAI hosted breakfast held in April 2016. In 2016, panellists and delegates identified a need to focus on evaluation criteria for assessments in South Africa. A task team convened by the PAI with representatives from industry, professional associations and academia have since focussed on exploring best practice models in assessment evaluation. In this session presenters discussed current events, best practices and ideas that could assist with improved assessment evaluation practices in the South African context. This was followed by discussion with some of the task team representatives working on a model for assessment evaluation in South Africa. A critical review of the article ‘When good intentions meet a methodological thought disorder’ by Paul Barrett – reflections on this article (Behavioural Sciences 2018, 8(1), 5 was discussed.

PAI released an online survey entitled ‘South African Psychometric Assessment’ during April of 2017. The aim of the survey was to conduct research to understand and explore the assessment testing tools currently being used in industry for recruitment, development and talent management purposes. This includes understanding which of the tests being used are registered with the HPCSA and which are not. Furthermore, the survey also aims to understand how the current assessment community views relevant legislation as well as Various presentations in collaboration with regional branches were held on the results of the survey and current trends in the testing and assessment South African environment.  Regional branch participation included the Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and North west branches. Further presentations will take place at the Eastern and Western Cape regional branches following conference this year.

 Who can join the interest group?

All paid up members of SIOPSA are automatically members of the PAI interest group and will receive all PAI communication and information. There is no formal registration process. 

If you would like to be involved in the activities of PAI, please contact the chairperson, David Bischof at:  Bischof.d@gmail.com / 0732545119.

Why Join (Benefits and Opportunities)?

• Keep up to date with developments in the field of assessments and psychometrics
• Help promote ethical, fair and good assessment practices
• Collaboratively work towards reducing negative perceptions of assessments
• Create an understanding of the field and the value it adds to individuals and organisations
• Participate in research efforts, webinars and information sharing sessions.
• Contribute to thought leadership pieces
• Allow for the interests and concerns of psychometrists and psychologists in the field to be heard

Planned Activites for EARLY 2021:

• Launch of the ASSA online review system
• Thought leadership piece on the current state of assessments in South Africa
• Webinar on the current state of assessments in South Africa – A South African Practitioner overview of the current Assessment Landscape 24 February (Click on title of webinar to take you to the booking)

Interest Group Overview

The Interest Group for Psycho-Legal (IGPL) was formed after the 2015 SIOPSA Annual Conference in response to a request from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) that SIOPSA undertake the formal monitoring and training of IOPs in the medico-legal space. IGPL has tasked itself with:

• the establishment of practice standards and basic requirements for IOPs working in this field;
• the provision of standardised, relevant training in aspects of psycho-legal work;
• the establishment of a formal point of reference for psycho-legal practice within SIOPSA and the Industrial and Organisational profession in South Africa
• a move towards SIOPSA becoming the primary accreditor of IOPs in the medico-legal space.

What are some interesting things the interest group has accomplished?

As the result of the concerns expressed by the RAF insofar as the training, knowledge and calibre of the reports and evidence-giving of IOPs in the medico-legal space were concerned, the decision was taken that the most important and immediate focus needed to be on ‘grass roots’ training so as to ensure standardisation of the assessments and reports of IOPs already in the field, as well as those planning to enter the field. To this end, a ‘road show’ in which a half-day training course, focused on practical skills, and facilitated by the various SIOPSA Regional Chapters, was taken to Port Elizabeth Potchefstroom, Cape Town and Durban, and attended in total by about 100 IOPs, emerging IOPs, students and other non-IOP Health Professionals. In July 2016, a full day Mock Trial was held on the day before the SIOPSA Annual Conference began. PLIG was very fortunate to have the support and assistance of the South African Medico-Legal Association (SAMLA), which, in the form of SAMLA’s National Director of Education, Dr Hennie Becker, shared knowledge, experience and expertise without which the Mock Trial could not have taken place. A number of highly regarded legal, medical and paramedical experts participated in the event without charging for their involvement since all are committed to the continued improvement of standards in the industry.

Why Join (Benefits and Opportunities)?

IGPL has at its heart the improvement of the reputation of IOPs doing psycho-legal work by means of the provision of training at numerous levels in order to standardise IOP reports and the giving of evidence in the Courts. IGPL runs a Helpline for IOPs who need assistance with any aspect of psycho-legal work, no matter how small.

How to join?

At present, all IOPs, emerging IOPs, students and other interested parties who have attended the IGPL training courses and other presentations, such as the SIOPSA Mock Trial, are considered to be de facto members and are on the IGPL mailing list. Requests to be placed on the mailing list so as to be among the first to know about upcoming events can be sent to the SIOPSA Office.

Most recent event: 

The Psycho-Legal Interest Group hosted a free-webinar titled Making sense of Earnings Data for Medico-Legal Report Writing.  To access the powerpoint presentation by the panellists please click on the presenters name.

Jaen Beelders  – Analytico HR

Morag Phillips – Analytico HR

Martin Westcott

Koch Consulting Actuaries

Manoko Ratala

Averile Ryder

Charl du Plessis

Q & A Responses from Panellists

Interest Group Overview

The Interest Group for Diversity and Inclusion was established to craft and manage transformation of SIOPSA as a society and a profession. Despite more than two decades of democracy in South Africa and a favourable legislative framework, issues of representation, inclusivity and diversity of the profession of I/O Psychology still lags behind, even though there is a social call to action and national uproar for the profession to lead and shape the transformation agenda. Therefore, the interest group is a social activist and collaborative conscience of the society. The Interest Group was founded at the SIOPSA 2017 Annual Conference. The formation of the interest group was necessitated by various stakeholders and members to ensure that transformation remains a strategic intent and achievable goal of SIOPA.

The primary purpose of the interest group is to do the following:

• Ensure that the transformation agenda is seen as strategic and implemented to sustain the profession and society for IOPs.
• Create a society that fosters the diversity and inclusion ethos for all members, including nurturing the IOP talent pipeline.
• Formalise, standardise and provide training on transformation work within SIOPSA in conjunction with the SIOPSA Academy.

The secondary objectives include:

• Ensure that SIOPSA is innovative, adaptable and prepared for future technologies and models that will inform the practice of IOP.
• To support the society’s dream and aspiration for self-regulation of the IOP profession.

Which field of psychology does the interest group target?

The interest group is not targeted at a field of psychology, but it is founded on a multi-disciplinary approach across many areas of study within the profession and practice IOP.

Who can join the Interest Group?

Any member of SIOPSA as written in the constitution is welcome to join the interest group.

Why Join (Benefits and Opportunities)?

The members of the Interest Group for Diversity and Inclusion are individuals that have a passion for inclusivity, diversity and want to contribute to a progressive South Africa, SIOPSA and the IOP profession. Firstly, the main tread that weaves the interest group is to see a better and progressive society, to ensure sustainability. Secondly, to contributes towards thinking of ways, methods and models to achieve true transformation.  Finally, to be part of the legacy which leaves a footprint for success.

How to join?

Members join by expressing interest to join the Interest Group, becoming part of the mailing list and events organised by the interest group. The process of joining an interest group is ratified by the SIOPSA office to ensure proper governance.

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