I am excited to introduce Volume 40, issues 3 and 4 of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (JOBM). To accommodate a special section, we are combining issues 3 and 4 of this volume. The manuscripts appearing in this special section will also be featured in a forthcoming book entitled Handbook of Organizational Performance: Foundations and Advances, edited by Drs. Doug Johnson and Carl Johnson. Three papers are included in this special section. These include a paper on Professional Development in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), a paper on Issues in Private Practice, and a paper on Encouraging Multiculturalism and Diversity in OBM. Additional manuscripts from this book will appear in upcoming special sections of future JOBM volumes.
Many of us find it challenging to identify professional development opportunities in OBM; conferences like the annual Association for Behavior Analysis, International (ABAI) meeting and the bi-annual OBM Network event provide development and networking opportunities, but these meetings are few and far-between. This manuscript provides ideas for additional professional development.
The paper on Issues in Private Practice should help guide those interested in a career in private OBM consulting. Navigating the complex legal, ethical, and time and financial management activities in private practice can be difficult. This paper provides some great insights and suggestions for those just beginning private work, as well as for those seasoned professionals running their own consulting firm.
The chapter on Encouraging Multiculturalism and Diversity in OBM is timely and important. The workplace is becoming increasingly diverse, not only in the United States but also globally. As a discipline, OBM needs to welcome individuals of different races, backgrounds and beliefs. This chapter provides a number of concrete ideas for accomplishing this.
In addition to the manuscripts which are part of this special section, a number of empirical articles are also included in this issue. Two articles on a performance assessment tool, the Performance Diagnostic Checklist – Human Services, are included. The first is a Research Report on an evaluation of the validity and reliability of the tool; the second is a Research Article evaluating the utility of the tool in a clinic setting. Three additional Research Articles are also featured in this issue: one examines data collection software, another examines the use of prompts and feedback to reduce illegal parking, and a third examines feedback modality on performance. A report on the use of pay-for-performance in human service settings is also highlighted.
Finally, two excellent reviews round out this issue. The first focuses on reinforcer identification among employees. If you thought it was as simple as asking an employee once about his or her preferences, check out this paper! The second review is a detailed analysis of feedback in organizations. This paper updates previous reviews on feedback published decades ago, and is certain to be frequently cited in the years ahead.
As always, I welcome any suggestions and feedback regarding journal policies and practices. Please feel free to send me an electronic message at [email protected]. I hope you enjoy this issue!