This question has two parts; be sure to answer both. First, explain the three ways Hugo Munsterberg believed psychologists could contribute to industry. Next, imagine that you manage a hair salon and apply each of Munsterberg's principles to your daily tasks as a manager.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Hugo Munsterberg believed psychologists could contribute to industry in three ways: (1) study jobs and determine which people are best suited to specific jobs, (2) identify the psychological conditions under which employees do their best work, and (3) devise management strategies to influence employees to follow management's interests.

In your job as the manager of a hair salon, you would study jobs and determine which people are best suited to specific jobs. For example, you may find that one stylist does her best work on women with long hair, while another stylist achieves spectacular results with color or daring hair styles. Looking at your workers, you would want to understand the psychological conditions under which employees do their best work. Because your employees work in the beauty industry, you might imagine that they care about appearances—and that they would therefore do their best work in a salon that is decorated tastefully and expertly. As you look to devise management strategies that influence employees to follow management's interests, you would look for win-win situations. For example, you might arrange with the local newspaper to profile a different member of the staff each week. The interview would make each employee feel important (and help the stylists develop a following). By developing their own followings, the stylists bring in additional revenue to the salon, which is completely in sync with management's interests.