SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE WORLD OF WORK

WORKFORCE 20NEXT
Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Through the World of Work

Translating Insights from Organizational Psychology

A new book, part of the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP) organizational science, translation, and application series, has been published by Oxford University Press.

The critical new volume, Sustainable Development Through the World of Work, edited by Julie Olson-Buchanan (Dean, Craig School of Business and Sid Craig Dean’s Chair, California State University, Fresno), John C. Scott (Co-CEO, APTMetrics), and Lori Foster (Professor, School of Management Studies, University of Cape Town), brings together global voices in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology to demonstrate how this discipline can accelerate progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

While I-O psychology has long offered insights with the potential to improve societal well-being, much of this work has remained siloed within academic and professional circles. This book bridges that gap by framing I-O psychology in terms of real-world impact, offering a compelling case for its relevance to policymakers, practitioners, and changemakers on the front lines of sustainable development.

Designed for accessibility and global reach, the book distills science and practice into brief, engaging entries across four urgent themes: social sustainability, health and well-being, economics, and the environment. Authorship teams balance science and practice while reflecting a diversity of perspectives—including voices from low- and middle-income countries. With each section concluding in expert commentary, the volume serves as a practical and inclusive guide for public and private sector leaders eager to harness the power of work psychology to drive prosocial change at scale.

The three editors open the discussion with a chapter titled Translating the Science of I-O Psychology Into Actionable Steps, where they provide an overview of how the volume translates the science and practice of Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology as it relates to sustainable development efforts. The volume is explicitly targeted to those who are engaged in prosocial work across the public and private sectors.

In chapter 12, Keith Caver (Chief Strategy Officer, APTMetrics), Robert E. Lewis (Chief Assessor, APTMetrics) and C Howie Hodges (Managing Director, CENTRI Capital) discuss Leadership Selection and Development as a Pathway to Strong Institutions. Through three illustrative case studies, this brief broadly explores principles and practices that facilitate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) objectives and identifies their limitations based on relevant and associated economic and cultural characteristics.

Other chapters cover topics in:
  • Social Sustainability
  • Health and Well-Being
  • Economics
  • Environment

The publication is available online as of 2 May 2025 and in print format as of 30 June 2025 from Oxford University Press.