Top Reasons Why People & Culture Teams Should Collaborate with Academia

The role of human resources (HR) professionals has expanded beyond traditional hiring and payroll responsibilities. In today's rapidly changing business landscape, HR professionals need to be proactive in recruiting and developing diverse talent and creating inclusive workplace cultures. One way for HR professionals to achieve these goals is to collaborate with universities to access short-term talent, interns, full-time employees, and work with professors on employee learning and development. NotedSource will explore how HR collaboration with academia improves diversity and inclusion, drives organizational effectiveness, and helps companies prepare for the future of work.

Team Up With IOPsychs to Drive Employee Engagement

These professionals possess the skills and knowledge to analyze and improve the functioning of a company at both the individual and organizational levels.

Enhancing Employee Productivity

Organizational psychologists specialize in understanding the factors that affect workplace behavior and performance. By applying psychological principles and conducting research, they can identify barriers to productivity and devise tailored interventions to overcome them. This may include refining work processes, improving communication channels, or implementing incentive systems that encourage employees to maximize their output.

Improving Employee Satisfaction and Retention

A satisfied and engaged workforce is essential for business success. Organizational psychologists can assess the overall employee experience and identify areas for improvement. They can recommend and help implement strategies to enhance job satisfaction, including optimizing work-life balance, developing career advancement opportunities, and creating a positive organizational culture. These measures can lead to higher employee retention rates, reducing the costs associated with hiring and training new staff.

Facilitating Change Management

In an ever-evolving business environment, change is inevitable. Organizational psychologists can help companies manage change more effectively by guiding the development of change strategies that take into account human behavior and emotional responses.

Inclusion Built on Science, History and Rigor

One of the key benefits of working with universities is the ability to work with experts to build inclusive workspaces. By working with scholars who have devoted their time to researching the history of minority groups and how to best build a workplace that serves them, companies can create more welcoming and inclusive environments.

Work with scholars like...

• Osei Appiah, Professor and Multi-Cultural Media Consultant

• Dr. Regine Bendl, Professor and Head of the Institute for Gender and Diversity in Organizations

• Joshi Khyati, Scholar and thought leader on the intersecting issues of race, religion and immigration in the United States.

• Anatasia S. Kim, Ph.D., tenured Professor of Clinical Psychology at The Wright Institute 

Define the Future of Work at Your Company

Collaboration with universities can also help companies prepare for the future of work. As technology and automation continue to transform the workplace, companies need to develop a workforce that is adaptable and resilient. HR professionals can collaborate with universities to develop programs that focus on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, and how they will impact the workforce.

In addition, collaboration with universities can help companies prepare for the changing demographics of the workforce. As baby boomers retire and younger generations enter the workforce, companies need to develop strategies that appeal to different age groups and cultural backgrounds. By partnering with universities, HR professionals can gain access to the latest research on generational differences and cultural norms, allowing them to develop more effective talent management strategies.

Drive Professor-Led Learning and Development Programs

Universities offer a wealth of knowledge and resources that can benefit companies looking to improve their knowledge sets in key focus areas - whether that be in AI, pop culture, social sciences or new and developing scientific research studies.

For example, if a company is looking to educate its employees to create a more inclusive workforce, HR professionals can collaborate with professors to develop learning and development opportunities that address specific areas of concern, such as unconscious bias, cultural competency, and inclusive leadership. Those collaborations can turn into whitepapers, panels, courses - anything that best fits the learning styles and objectives of their team.