Work and Organizations

The IPPA Work and Organizations (W&O) Division is a forum for academics, researchers, practitioners, and anyone interested in studying and applying positive psychological concepts in work or organizational settings including those relatively new to positive psychology.

Scholars and Practitioners engaged in industrial or organizational psychology, organizational behavior, organizational design and development, leadership development, culture, and change
Managers and Corporate Leaders
Human Resources (HR) professionals
Executive Coaches
Business Advisors and Consultants
Trainers (and corporate trainers)
And more

What Does the Division Do?

The division provides researchers and practitioners a forum to discuss and collaborate in the development and application of positive psychology principles aimed to improve individual, team and organizational well-being and performance across various contexts and cultures. Current offerings include:

Regular virtual “meet-ups” where members discuss a specific topic of interest
Quarterly “Digests and Dialogues” Series featuring brief research digests, expert interviews, and recorded discussions between both a researcher and practitioner
A Positive Organizational Intervention Challenge (POIC) – a design program challenge where Division members pitch and develop a research-based intervention for the workplace for judging
A curated publication featuring research and practice briefs
Access to a member directory and discussions in the online members’ community, IPPA Engage
Access to an online library with hundreds of video recordings, research, slides decks, and presentations
Exemplary Research to Practice Award provided at the World Congress
Connecting members through the Communities of Practice Venture

Division Advisors

Arnold Bakker, Ph.D.

Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Kim Cameron, Ph.D.

William Russell Kelly Professor Emeritus of Management & Organizations, Ross School of Business and Professor Emeritus of Higher Education, School of Education, University of Michigan

Robert Easton, MAPP, MBA, MDefSt

CEO, Probe CX

Jim Harter, Ph.D.

Chief Scientist of Workplace and Wellbeing, Gallup

Fred Luthans, Ph.D.

University and George Holmes Distinguished Professor of Management Emeritus, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Chris Murchison, M.Ed.

Creative Thought Partner, Consultant, and Positive Organization Coach, Murchison Consultant Group

Visiting Business Leader, Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business

Marisa Salanova, Ph.D.

Full Professor in Work & Organizational Psychology, Jaume I University