Communicating the utility of human resource activities: A survey of I/O and HR professionals

A national survey of industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists and other human resource (HR) specialists was conducted to examine experiences with and attitudes about utility estimates. Forty-six percent of respondents who had presented a HR activity to management (N = 192) reported using utility estimates. Results suggest that utility estimation in dollars provides but one of several means of expressing value. Areas for researchers to explore that may aid in the use of utility analysis by I/O and HR professionals are presented.Therese Hoff Macan is affiliated with Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121-4499.Scott Highhouse is affiliated with Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Krannert Building 54, 1125 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205-2810.Authors contributed equally. The helpful comments of James A. Breaugh, Lee Friedman, theodore L. Hayes, and Mark E. Tubbs on an earlier version of this article are greatly appreciated. The authors also thank Laura L. Heft for entering the survey data.