May 08, 2007
Submarine psychology:
I just found this interesting snippet in a BBC News story about the development and imminent launch of the new Astute class Navy submarine:
It may be one of the most sophisticated submarines ever built, but the project has been beset with problems. The three submarines are £900m ($1.8bn) over budget and four years behind the original schedule.
But a new boss at Barrow, Murray Easton, introduced big changes when he arrived a few years back.
A team of psychologists was brought into the yard to improve management effectiveness, and to create better ways of communication. Even now a psychologist is present at every board meeting.
I could write everything I know about organisational psychology (psychology applied to business, team work and organisations) on the back of napkin but I'm curious as to what role a psychologist would play at board meetings.
However, while trying to find out (and failing) I found two short articles (one and two) on 'submarine psychologists' who work for the Navy researching life on board underwater vessels.
Link to BBC News story 'Alien submarine breaks technical barriers'.
Link 1 and link 2 to articles on 'submarine psychologists'.
