Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Servants of Empowerment

  • Chapter
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Help the Vulnerable

Abstract

The United Nations defines poverty as poverties of opportunity, including being denied access to good health, education, and decent work. Freedoms like these imply good health and educational services, staffed by motivated workers, and industries that are socially responsible toward their employees and the communities in which they operate. A psychology that is anti-poverty must therefore by definition include the empowerment of individuals in work, for health and in education. It must also connect with policy-makers and communities — contributing to the science of implementation. This chapter articulates a Humanitarian work psychology of empowerment. Research must speak “truth to power,” naming, shaming, and issuing challenges to extant development inequities: A continuing “economic apartheid” in aid workers’ wages; “brain waste” through employment discrimination against skilled (and relatively unskilled) migrants; transforming corporate social responsibility from image management to community empowerment; “task-shifting” health-care delivery from ensconced imported health professionals to local mid-level cadres; and influencing policy development and planning on social inclusion, for people living with disability. These cross-contextual cases also show how organizations can be more effective “capacitors” for human development. Taking empowerment seriously requires that industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology, just like organizations themselves, become a servant of empowerment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Amin, M., MacLachlan, M., Mannan, H., El Tayeb, S., El Khatim, A., Swartz, L., & Schneider, M. (2011). EquiFrame: A framework for analysis of the inclusion of human rights and vulnerable groups in health policies. Health and Human Rights, 13(2), 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Annan, K. A. (2000). We the Peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the 21st Century. New York: United Nations (UN).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baritz, L. (1960). The Servants of Power: A History of the Use of Social Science in American Industry. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Berry, M., Reichman, W., MacLachlan, M., Klobas, J., Hui, H. C. C, & Carr, S. C. (2011). Humanitarian work psychology: The contributions of organizational psychology to poverty reduction. Journal of Economic Psychology, 32, 240–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bierce, A. (1999). The Devil’s Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blickle, G., Kramer, J., Schneider, P. B., Meurs, J. A., Ferris, G. R., Mierke, J., Witzki, A. H., & Momm, T. D. (2011). Role of political skill in job performance prediction beyond general mental ability and personality in cross-sectional and predictive studies. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 41, 488–514. doi: 10.HH/j.1559-1816.2010.00723.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brief, A. P. (2000). Still servants of power. Journal of Management Inquiry, 9, 342–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buse, K., Ludi, E., & Vigneri, M. (2008). Can project-funded investments in rural development be scaled up? Lessons from the millennium villages project. Natural Resource Perspectives, 118, 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callaghan, M., Ford, N., & Schneider, A. (2010). A systematic review of task-shifting for HIV treatment and care in Africa. Human Resources for Health. Retrieved January 2, 2012, from http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1478-4491-8-8.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C. (2010). Global mobility, local economy: It’s work psychology, Stupid! In S. C. Carr (Ed.), The Psychology of Global Mobility (pp. 125–150). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C. (2013). Anti-Poverty Psychology. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C, Ehiobuche, I., Rugimbana, R. O., & Munro, D. (1996). Expatriate’s ethnicity and their effectiveness: “Similarity attraction” or “inverse resonance”? Psychology and Developing Societies, 8, 265–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C, Inkson, K., & Thorn, K. J. (2005). From global careers to talent flow: Re-interpreting brain drain. Journal of World Business, 40, 386–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C, MacLachlan, M., & Furnham, A. (2012). Humanitarian Work Psychology. Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C, MacLachlan, M., Zimba, C, & Bowa, M. (1995). Community aid abroad: A Malawian perspective. Journal of Social Psychology, 135(6), 781–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C, McWha, I., MacLachlan, M., & Furnham, A. (2010). International-local remuneration differences across six countries: Do they undermine poverty reduction work? International Journal of Psychology, 45(5), 321–340. Global special issue on psychology and poverty reduction. Retrieved from http://poverty.massey.ac.nz/#global_issue.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S. C, Rugimbana, R. O., Walkom, E. H., & Bolitho, F. H. (2001). Selecting expatriates in developing areas: “Country-of-origin” effects in Tanzana. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 25, 441–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chataika, T., Wazakili, M., Mji, G., MacLachlan, M., Dube, A. K., Mulumba, M., Massah, B. O., Wakene, D., Kallon, F., & Maughan, M. (under review). Facilitating Disability Inclusion in Poverty Reduction Processes: Group Consensus Perspectives from Disability Stakeholders in Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chilopora, G., Pereira, C, & Kamwendo, F. (2007). Postoperative outcome of caesarean sections and other major emergency obstetric surgery by clinical officers and medical officers in Malawi. Human Resource Health, 5, 17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coates, K., & Carr, S. C. (2005). Skilled immigrants and selection bias: A theory-based field study from New Zealand. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29, 577–599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dore, R. (1994). Why visiting sociologists fail. World Development, 22, 1425–1436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Easterly, W. (2006). The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest have Done So Much III and So Little Good. London: Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evers, A., & van der Flier, H. (1998). Ethnic minorities in the labour market. In P. J. D. Drenth, H. & J. de Wolff (Eds.), Handbook of Work and Organizational Psychology (2nd Edition, pp. 229–259). Hove, UK: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fechter, A. M. (2012). “Living well” whilst “doing good? Missing debates on altruism and professionalism in aid work. Third World Quarterly, 33, 1475–1491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore, B., & McAuliffe, E. (2013). Effectiveness of community health workers delivering preventative interventions for maternal and child health in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, In press Resolution Global.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godfrey, P. C. (2005). The relationship between corporate philanthropy and shareholder wealth: A risk management perspective. Academy of Management Review, 30, 777–798.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hancock, G. (1989). Lords of Poverty: The Power, Prestige, and Corruption of the International Aid Business. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrod, J. (1974). Problems of the United Nations specialized agencies at the quarter century. In G. W. Keeton, G. Schwarzenberger, & G. Burnham (Eds.), The Year Book of World Affairs (vol. 28). Westport, CT: Praeger 187–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Idemudia, U. (2009). Oil extraction and poverty reduction in the Niger Delta: A critical examination of partnership initiatives. Journal of Business Ethics, 90, 91–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, V., de Grip, K., de Ruyter de Wildt, M., Ton, G., Douma, M., Boone, K., & van Hoeven, H. (2013). Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Public Policy. A Systematic Literature Review of the Effects of Government Supported Interventions on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Behaviour of Enterprises in Developing Countries. The Hague: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruk, ME, Pereira, C, Vaz, F, Bergström, S., & Galea, S. (2007). Economic evaluation of surgically trained assistant medical officers in performing major obstetric surgery in Mozambique. BJOG, 114, 1253–1260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lefkowitz, J. (2012). From humanitarian to humanistic work psychology: The morality of business. In S. C. Carr, M. MacLachlan, & A. Furnham (Eds.), Humanitarian Work Psychology (pp. 103–128). Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave-Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeMieux, A. F., & Pratto, F. (2003). Poverty and prejudice. In S. C. Carr, & T. S. Sloan (Eds.), Poverty and Psychology: From Global Perspective to Local Practice (pp. 147–162). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lim, A., & Ward, C. (2003). The effects of nationality, length of residence, and occupational demand on the perceptions of “foreign talent” in Singapore. In K. S. Yank, & K. Hwang (Eds.), Progress in Asian Social Psychology (pp. 247–259). Westport, CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mace, K. A., Atkins, S. G., Fletcher, R. B., & Carr, S. C. (2005). Immigrant jobhunting, labor market experiences, and feelings about occupational life in New Zealand: An exploratory study. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 34, 97–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLachlan, M. (2012). Rehabilitation psychology and global health. In P. Kennedy (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Rehabilitation Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press 554–573.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLachlan, M., Amin, M., Mannan, H. El Tayeb, S. El Khatim, A. Swartz, L. Munthal, A., & Van Rooy, G. (2012). Inclusion and human rights in African health policies: Using equiframe for comparative and benchmarking analysis of 51 policies from Malawi, Sudan, South Africa & Namibia. PLoS One, 7(5), e35864. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035864.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLachlan, M., Carr, S. C, & McAuliffe, E. (2010). The Aid Triangle: Recognizing the Human Dynamics of Dominance, Justice and Identity. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLachlan, M., Mannan, H., & McAuliffe, E. (2010). Staff skills not staff types for community based rehabilitation. Lancet, 399, 1988–1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahroum, S. (2000). High skilled globetrotters: Mapping the international migration of human capital. R & D Management, 23, 30–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannan, H., Amin, M., MacLachlan, M., & The EquitAble Consortium (2013). The EquiFrame Manual: A Tool for Evaluating and Promoting the Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups and Core Concepts of Human Rights in Health Policy Documents. 2nd Edition. Dublin: Global Health Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannan, H., Boostrom, C, MacLachlan, M., McAuliffe, E., Khasnabis, C, & Gupta, N. (2012). A systematic review of the effectiveness of alternative cadres in community based rehabilitation. Human Resources for Health, 10, 20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manning, R. (2006). Technical cooperation. Development Assistance Committee Journal, 7, 111–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manson, J. M. C, & Carr, S. C. (2011). Improving job fit for mission workers by including expatriate and local job experts in job specification. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 26, 643–663. Global special issue on psychology and poverty reduction. Retrieved from http://poverty.massey.ac.nz/#global_issue.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marai, L., Keribu, V., Kinkin, E., Peniop, J. P., Saline, C, & Kofana, G. (2010). Remuneration disparities in Oceania: Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. International Journal of Psychology, 45, 350–359. Global special issue on psychology and poverty reduction. Retrieved from http://poverty.massey.ac.nz/#global_issue.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAuliffe, E., Manafa, O., Maseko, E, Bowie, C, & White, E. (2009). Understanding job satisfaction amongst mid-level cadres in Malawi: The contribution of organizational justice. Reproductive Health Matters, 17, 80–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAuliffe, E., Bowie, C, Hevey, D., Makoae, L., Manafa, O., Maseko, E, & Moleli-Habi, M. (2010). Managing and motivating: Pragmatic solutions to the brain drain in human resources in healthcare. In S. Kabene (Ed.), Human Resources in Healthcare, Health Informatics and Health Systems. IGI Global, online publication. Retrieved August 6, 2011, from http://www.irma-international.org/chapter/managing-motivating-pragmatic-solutions-brain/43265/.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAuliffe, E., Daly, M., Kamwendo, E, Masanja, H., Sidat, M. (2013). The critical role of supervision in retaining staff in obstetric services: A three country study. PLoS ONE, 8(3), e58415. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058415.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCord, G. M., Pereira, C, Nzabuhakwa, C, & Bergstrom, S. (2009). The quality of emergency obstetrical surgery by assistant medical officers in Tanzanian district hospitals. Health Affairs, 28(5), w876–w885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McWha, I., & MacLachlan, M. (2011). Measuring relationships between workers in poverty-focused groups. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 26, 485–499. Global special issue on psychology and poverty reduction. Retrieved from http://poverty.masseyac.nz/#global_issue.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moyo, D. (2009). Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is Another Way for Africa. London: Allen Lane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munthali, A., Matagi, L., & Tumwebaze, C. (2010). Remuneration discrepancies in the landlocked economies of Malawi and Uganda. International Journal of Psychology, 45, 341–349. Global special issue on psychology and poverty reduction. Retrieved from http://poverty.masseyac.nz/#global_issue.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orlitzky, M., Schmidt, F. L., & Rynes, S. L. (2003). Corporate social and financial performance: A meta-analysis. Organization Studies, 24, 403–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osicki, M. (2010). New diplomacies in corporate social responsibility: Pro-Social I/O — Quo Vadis? The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 48, 111–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. (2004). Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Paris: United Nations (UN).

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, R. W. (2013). Development mobilities: Identity and authority in an Angolan development programme. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 39, 277–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridde, V. (2010). Per diems undermine health interventions, systems and research in Africa: Burying our heads in the sand. Tropical Medicine and International Health, doi: 10.HH/j.1365-3156.2010.02607.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press (OUP).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sidanius, J., & Pratto, E (1999). Social Dominance: An Inter-Group Theory of Social Hierarchy and Oppression. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press (CUP).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • SIOP [Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology] (2013). Humanitarian Work Psychology: Concepts to Contributions. Washington, DC: SIOP International White Papers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, N. V. (2012). Equality, justice and identity in an expatriate/local setting: Which human factors enable empowerment of Filipino aid workers? Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 6, 57–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38, 1442–1465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spreitzer, G. M. (2008). Taking stock: A review of more than twenty years of research on empowerment at work. In C. Cooper, & J. Barling (Eds.), The Handbook of Organizational Behaviour (pp. 54–72). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, K. W., & Velthouse, B. A. (1990). Cognitive elements of empowerment: An “interpretative” model of intrinsic task motivation. The Academy of Management Review, 15, 666–681.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toh, S. M., & DeNisi, A. S. (2007). Host country nationals as socializing agents: A social identity approach. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 28, 281–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turban, D. B., & Greening, D. W. (1996). Corporate social performance and organizational attractiveness to prospective employees. Academy of Management Journal, 40, 658–672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNDP [United Nations Development Programme] (2009). Human Development Report 2009 — Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development. New York: UNDP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usuramo, J. (2009). Opening Address: Workshop on Dual Salaries. Honiara, Solomon Islands: University of the South Pacific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddock, S. A., & Graves, S. B. (1997). The corporate social performance-financial performance link. Strategic Management Journal, 18, 303–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2012). World Development Report 2012: fobs. Washington, DC: World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2008). The World Health Report 2006: Working Together for Health. Geneva: WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2011). World Report on Disability. Geneva: WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, E., Lu, Z., Li, X., Li, T., Papola, T. S., Pais, J., & Sahu, P. P. (2010). Remuneration differences in the emerging economies of China and India. International Journal of Psychology, 45, 360–370. Global special issue on psychology and poverty reduction. Retrieved from http://poverty.massey.ac.nz/#global_issue.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Stuart C. Carr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eilish McAuliffe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Malcolm MacLachlan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. OrgVitality, Pleasantville, USA

    Walter Reichman

  2. Baruch College and The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, USA

    Walter Reichman

Copyright information

© 2014 Stuart C. Carr, Eilish McAuliffe, and Malcolm MacLachlan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Carr, S.C., McAuliffe, E., MacLachlan, M. (2014). Servants of Empowerment. In: Reichman, W. (eds) Industrial and Organizational Psychology Help the Vulnerable. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137327734_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation