Layman's description

Work & Organisational psychology is the study of people and their behaviour, cognitions, emotions, and motivation at work.

Given the prevalence of dynamic work contexts, and the key role of employee and organisation adaptation, the first objective of this research line is to gain more insight into adaptive behaviors that employees engage in to cope with changing realities at work and in organizations. In particular our focus will be on proactive types of adaptation. A deeper understanding is needed into how employee adaptation to a volatile and uncertain work environment impacts their personal well-being and development, as well as the prosperity of the work group, the organisation, and society at large. Consequently, the second objective of this research line is to investigate how adaptation processes and mechanisms are related to important outcomes such as employee well-being and professional development. In particular, our focus will be on thriving at work, i.e. a positive psychological state characterized by a joint sense of vitality and learning.

To obtain these objectives, this research subprogram addresses the following key questions: (1) Which mechanisms and processes contribute to effective adaptation? (2) How are these adaptation mechanisms and processes related to thriving at work and other important outcomes, such as performance, creativity, motivation and sustainable employment? (3) Which personal and organisational/environmental processes and factors serve as antecedents or boundary conditions for effective adaptation?