ABP News
Newsletter Summer 2010
Posted: 15/08/10You can download the Summer newsletter in word format here
Welcome to the Summer edition of the ABP’s quarterly newsletter. This edition is packed with highlights from the conference. Also, following on the World Cup theme, see how some of the top global corporations have been performing recently. As usual, catch up on the latest news, events and gadgets… enjoy!
Helen Watts, Editor
Calling all volunteers! Conference 2011
The 2011 Conference Deans are warming up and would like to invite all willing bodies to join them. Meetings will start in September so if you would like to help out in any way, shape or form (and have fun at the same time), please contact Lylie (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) – 07528 431720), one of the Deans for next year’s conference.
Perhaps you can suggest some ideas about next year’s conference? What topics should be addressed? What would be good social activities? How can we engage non-members?
This edition’s highlights…
- What does our Chair, Steve Whiddett, have to say?
- Conference highlights
SmorgasBOARD
Letter from our Chair, Steve Whiddett
Several years ago I attended my first ABP conference. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and unpretentious approach to the whole event – it encouraged me to return each year since. I usually found the overall programme interesting and enjoyable but sometimes out of balance, with the social programme more engaging than aspects of the day time programme. In 2010 this changed: the 10th anniversary conference was simply one of the best and well balanced conferences I have been to in a very long time – and I have been to a lot of conferences.
Highlights, in addition to the excellent social programme, were everywhere – in the diversity of sessions, the quality of presenters, the relevance of topics and the practical use of technology and media. Don’t just take my word for it, take a look at the short video, capturing the energy of and reactions to this year’s conference, on the ABP website. A very big thank you to everyone who helped make the 2010 conference such an outstanding experience on so many levels.
The 2010 conference was an opportunity for the ABP Management Board to ‘test’ its thinking about the purpose of the ABP and, in line with the theme of ‘endless possibilities’, to explore the possibilities for Business Psychology. In short, those attending the conference gave a resounding thumbs-up to the work done so far by the Board on developing a strategy for the ABP and for Business Psychology.
Through presentations, voting technology and the ‘Not the AGM’ workshop we collected substantial views and feedback on where we might focus our energies and resources for the benefit of members and organisations.
For example, 92% of voters at the conference agreed or strongly agreed that our purpose should be:
To champion the use of psychology to achieve effective and sustainable performance for organisations and people at work.
The Board also presented a number of challenges that such a purpose would pose. These were also very strongly supported by the conference with the biggest challenges and highest priorities around how we raise awareness of: who we are, what we do, what makes us different and the value of our work. The seven challenges were reviewed and further developed by members at the ‘Not the AGM’ conference workshop. Outputs from the voting and the workshop will help shape an implementation plan that will be shared with members of the ABP for further consultation before setting priorities and inviting members to help make it happen. You can view extracts from my keynote address and the ‘Not the AGM’ workshop in the members’ area of the ABP website.
We’ll keep in touch and update you on progress again soon.
On a separate matter, those of us who are on or seeking to be on the BPS Register of Competence in Occupational Testing need to keep up to date with current changes to the registration standards and process. An email containing the latest information is being sent to all members. If you wish to remain on the register please do not ignore this.
Steve
Your ABP Board Members
Steve Whiddett (Chairman)
Mark O’Sullivan (Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee)
Trisha Cochrane
Carol Cole (Vice Chair and Chair of Standing Disciplinary Committee)
Richard Plenty
Peter Burton
Stephen Benton (Chair of Membership Committee)
Debbie Hance (Company Secretary and Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee)
Steve Carter
Richard Taylor (ABP Administrator)
What’s new?
The 10th Annual ABP Conference
Our Tenth Anniversary event was held in Wyboston Lakes on 6th-8th May and was, looking at the feedback gained and from informal accounts from attendees, a roaring success. Attended by over 150 people, we heard how Business Psychology has added value in organisations such as Shell, Grundfos, Schering-Plough, Balfour Beatty, the Department for Work and Pensions, Barclays Capital and the Metropolitan Police. The Conference Committee pulled out all the stops to bring us a conference with something for everyone, a packed programme of speakers and workshops but with perhaps more of an emphasis this year on the entertainments, to ensure that we celebrated our tenth birthday in style!
Fingers on buzzers
Our Chair, Steve Whiddett, gave an opening keynote which shared the Board’s vision of the future of the ABP and, using the same instant audience feedback/voting system as employed during the televised Prime Ministerial debates, collected views on the proposed areas of activity and focus for the coming years. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with clear support for the key areas of our new strategy. We followed this session with the ‘Not the AGM’ on the Friday, where we looked in more detail at the areas of activity we are proposing the new strategy covers. This session was really well attended and the discussions lively, constructive, challenging and creative.
Unable to attend?
If you were unable to make either the conference or the ‘Not the AGM’ session, you can view the video of this (along with the videos of Steve Whiddett’s keynote session and a summary video of the whole 2010 event), on our website here.
These videos were produced for the ABP by Dead Ready, sponsors of the conference and a production company who are passionate about video and its power to engage, inform, entertain and communicate. Dead Ready worked closely with the ABP Board in editing and creating these videos and we think they really give a good feel for the lively, professional, yet informal and friendly atmosphere that typifies the ABP Conference. For more information on Dead Ready, take a look at their website: http://www.deadready.co.uk/
Downloads
If you did attend this year’s conference and want to download any of the presentations (keynotes and session streams) the website is now host to all of the materials so do take a look. We’ve also posted some pictures (all strictly professional!) and the brilliant cartoons produced by Grahame Ogilvie, our Corporate Cartoonist. Again, if you didn’t make it this year, these will give you a feel for the emerging themes and main topics for discussion, and will whet your appetite for next year.
Thank you!
The Board would like to thank all those who contributed again for their time and input and we will be sharing some of the specific outputs with you in the coming months, as well as putting some of your suggestions and ideas into action.
Finally, the ABP Management Board and Conference Committee would like to extend their thanks again to the sponsors of the event. Without their support, the event would not be able to go ahead and this year, in a particularly challenging financial environment, we are particularly grateful for their generosity.
Conference 2011
Secure your place now at the 2011 ABP conference by downloading the early bird registration form. Those paying an early bird deposit (£60) will be offered an attractive discount off the full Conference fee. So, as usual, securing your place at this early rate guarantees you the cheapest available rate for the 2011 Conference and a significant financial saving!
Did you attend the 2010 conference? Please share with us your feedback here
Conference cartoons
Graham Ogilvie, of Ogilvie Design, produced cartoons representing key themes and topics raised during the conference.
ABP members can view the cartoons and conference presentations in the members area of the ABP website here
Delegates indicated how well each cartoon depicted the messages being communicated with ‘thumbs-up’ sticky notes.
For more information about Graham’s work, visit www.ogilviedesign.co.uk.
Global Corporations World Cup!
by Helen Watts
Fed up after the football this year?
To help take my mind off some of the miserable football performances seen in South Africa, I’ve been researching global entities other than football teams - global corporations - to find out which country has the most corporations listed in CNN Money’s Top Global 500 and what are the top 20 corporations across the globe.
Top 20 countries with most Global 500 corporations
With 29 listed corporations, in 6th place Britain performed better in this World Cup than any of its football teams did in this year’s football World Cup.
Country (Number of Global 500 Corps)
US (139)
Japan (71)
China (46)
France (39)
Germany (37)
Britain (29)
Switzrland (15)
Netherlands (13)
Canada (11)
Italy (11)
Top 5 Corporation Facts
Wal-Mart - not only the top in terms of revenue, but with 2,100,000 employees, it is the biggest employer.
Royal Dutch Shell & Exxon Mobil – whilst 2nd and 3rd in terms of revenue, they have seen dramatic profit changes since 2008; -52.4% 57.4% respectively.
BP - since the oil spill, it has set up a $20 billion fund to compensate the businesses affected.
Toyota - 5th in terms of revenue, 27th in terms of employees (320,590). But with a profit of 2,255.9 ($ millions) nowhere near the top 50 most profitable.
In the News
by Helen Watts
What’s happening in the world of HR? Here are some articles that caught my eye:
Workplace drinking culture is harming employees’ health, says report
Online talent contest used to seek IT security workers
Forty per cent of managers ‘return from holidays more stressed’
Annual leave entitlement is a greater source of dissatisfaction for men than it is for women
Psychometrics
By Helen Watts
The Psychological Testing Centre have highlighted this article which discusses the maths disability, Dyscalculia. How well do test publishers take into account test takers who may suffer with this? Hmmm… Dyscalculia - a practitioner’s view
A…B…P…?
By Helen Watts
What else is ABP a good acronym for at the minute?
….Austere British Petroleum?
Geeky Gadgets
By Helen Watts
Sony Party-shot IPT-DS1
Okay… so not strictly speaking a gadget that is useful at work, but could definitely be liberating at parties, reducing the need for someone to be on ‘camera duty’. This gadget allows the camera to automatically pan and tilt to cover the room. Using automatic face detection (scary!) and smile detection features, it will take photos automatically – true action shots!
No escape, big brother is watching and tracking your every move…
(I may be recommending this, but for those of you who decide to buy it, I take no responsibility for any conflict or embarrassment arising from unexpected photos taken by this gadget!).
Forthcoming events
CIPD Conferences
CIPD Coaching Conference
28 September 2010, London
- Discover how coaching can be used as a powerful tool for enhancing individual and organisational performance.
- Pick up practical tools on how to increase your own and your team’s ability to cope in adverse conditions, use coaching as a tool to engage, motivate and retain your people, and position coaching as a strategic imperative for business success.
Organisation Development Conference
29 September 2010, London
Dis- Discover how to enhance business performance while driving change in your organisation.
- Explore the current and emerging thinking in the field of OD and get practical advice on how to grow an agile, healthy and competitive organisation.
1st International Congress in Coaching Psychology
The first event will be a conference hosted by SGCP on 14th and 15th December 2010 at City University. City University is in a central London location, and new facilities and layout within the university make this an ideal venue for this event. More details about the Congress as a whole, and those participating in the Congress, can be found at: http://www.coachingpsychologycongress.org
The benefits of being an ABP member
Are you taking advantage of your ABP membership benefits? …
- Right to refer to oneself as a Member/Principal Member of the Association of Business Psychologists
- Use of the ABP logo on stationery and website
- Access to extensive presentation resources from previous Events and Conferences
- Opportunity to host events that showcase the member’s own services, insights or specialist approaches to business psychology
- Opportunity to attend events free or at a reduced cost, to support you in your CPD
Remember… ALL members benefit from…
- Networking opportunities with other members including the opportunity to meet with and work with members on subcommittees to help develop the profession of business psychology
- Right to form or join existing branches, in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The Midlands and the North
- Opportunity to form or join Special Interest Groups e.g. Business Leaders group
- Attendance at the acclaimed Members Only Annual Conference
- Advance access to online jobs listings
- Mentoring services for new and junior members
- Continuing Professional Development – access to CPD activities & training courses
- The seasonal e-newsletter, full of interesting and useful features
New services coming soon! ...
- Placement of a personal business link on the links page of the public website
- Access to the Members’ Area of the ABP website and Association information
- Access to the Members’ Area Jobs and Opportunities page
- The right, by Principal Members, to place their expertise information, email and website links on the Find a Psychologist service
- Access to the ABP Message Board
Not a member yet? Join us
Being a member of the Association of Business Psychologists brings a host of benefits and applying is simple. To join as a full ABP member you should be a person who either manages, is partner in, or employed in, a business providing psychological services to business or the public sector. Alternatively, you maybe employed as a psychologist in a relevant capacity (e.g. in HR) in a business or in the public sector. We also offer affiliate membership. Go to the membership levels page to find out the full requirements. The subscription for all categories of membership is the same - £30 plus VAT. This is great value for money, and low in comparison with other professional membership organisations. To apply to join the ABP please download the WORD application form or PDF application form. To pay your membership fees by direct debit please download the Direct Debit form.
Why not visit our LinkedIn page? Visit our LinkedIn page for your chance to network, socialise, and share any ABP thoughts and comments with other members.