What are the outcomes of the fifth International scientific-practical conference "Business psychology: theory and practice"?

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What are the outcomes of the fifth International scientific-practical conference "Business psychology: theory and practice"?

psychology international conference

The article analyzes the current state, trends and development prospects of business psychology based on the Fifth International Scientific and Practical Conference “Business Psychology: Theory and Practice (HSE, Moscow, Russia), which was held November, 30 -- December, 1, 2018. The conference was prepared and held by the master's program “Psychology in Business”, which is the domestic scientific and practical center for the development of business psychology -- a new branch in applied psychology. Presentations, their discussion, workshops showed a growing interest of researchers and practitioners to business psychology. There has been a tendency to search for a deeper psychological validation of business psychological tools, search for integrated approaches that can be the basis for the development of business psychological practice. A more clear understanding of the structure of business psychology from the perspective of personal, organisational, social, cultural factors of business management was indicated. The strengths of business psychologists were identified in the context of their ability to solve problems systematically and rely on an interdisciplinary approach. The prospects for the development of business psychology are the following: the expansion of geography and subject areas of research and practical activities of business psychologists; implementation of business psychology in a wide range of areas of human activity; the impact of business psychology on the development of new approaches in management and organisational consulting.

The conference on business psychology has been holding for five years in line with the methodology of business psychology -- a new direction of applied psychology, which originated in the UK as “Business Psychology” and became widespread in other countries. In Russia, it has received the name “Psychology of Business”, which is more consistent with the tradition of designating areas of domestic psychology. But the term “Business Psychology” is also used, as a literal translation of the English name. Therefore, in Russia, in relation to the new direction of applied psychology, the name “Psychology of Business” was consolidated, and in relation to the scientific-practical approach that is developing on the basis of this direction -- “Business-psychological approach”.

Business psychology is a modern branch of applied psychology that emerged at the intersection of organisational, social, industrial psychology and psychology of personality, as well as economics, sociology and management under the influence of the processes of social and economic development of society (Ivanova, Mikhailova, Stroh, 2008). The object of business psychology is the activities of people and organisations to create, develop and improve business efficiency, taking into account a set of factors. The subject field of business psychology includes a wide range of psychological phenomena, patterns, mechanisms associated with this activity and forming a business as an environment of self-realization, development and interaction of the individual.

In other words, the psychology of business studies the factors and conditions under which businessmen are successfully solving the tasks of the effectiveness of their business, do not lose human qualities that allow them to be capable for personal growth, effective communication with people and give them “human face”. Experts in this field should be able to comprehensively analyze business as a professional and social environment, identify its impact on the development of an individual, master the principles and technologies of psychological support for managers and personnel of business organisations, etc.

It should be noted that this trend began to be created in the UK in the 1990s under the influence of new business development conditions (increased instability, crises, etc.) and challenges to the psychological community from the dynamic world. The business demanded practice-oriented approaches, allowing them to work on complex solving problems, systematically take into account the human factor in management, etc. And business psychology has become such an approach, in which ideas of interdisciplinarity and focus on the use of psychological tools for business development were originally laid.

It was in Great Britain at the end of the twentieth century that the ideas about the goals and objectives of business psychology were formed, the first manuals were published, the first university training programs for business psychologists -- specialists working in this paradigm -- were being created. Thus, the textbook by the Professor of the University of East London E. McKenna “Business Psychology and Organisational Behavior” has sustained several editions since 1994 (McKenna, 2000). The emergence of business psychology in the UK, in our opinion, is not an accident, but reflects the logic of the development of education and science in this country. It was here that the practice- oriented training and the education of specialists for solving vital tasks were found (for example, the model of educating the gentleman by J. Locke). Master's programs in Business Psychology at the University of Westminster (Professor S. Benton) and London Metropolitan University (N. Merlow) became the methodological centers for the formation of an approach to understanding the goals and objectives of business psychology, as well as the functional tasks of business psychologists. These universities are famous for their practical oriented education, so it is not by chance that it was there that the first masters programs in business psychology were opened. Today in the UK there are more than 50 educational programs to train psychologists for business, including very famous universities such as University College London, Kingston University, Aston Business School, University of Westminster etc.

In Russia, the main center for the development of a business-psychological approach is the Master's programme “Psychology in Business” of the Department of Psychology at HSE, which has been operating since 2004. Teachers and students of this programme are developing and giving a new content to the approach of business psychology.

It is interesting to note that the first works written in the direction of the psychology of business in Russia appeared at the end of the twentieth century. Of course, applied branches of psychology associated with certain areas of activity had been formed in our country before. It's about, for example, the fields of education, industry, military activities, the space sector, etc. In the 1990s, a new social institution began to form -- a business that became a new resource for the development of business psychology as a new applied branch of psychology.

At this time, there was a need for psychologists to analyze the development of a business' value basis, highlight the psychological factors of success in business, show the sources of interest of businessmen in psychological research, etc. There was a request for cost effective tools for psychological support of business, contributing to its optimal development, taking into account the “human factor” and improving the efficiency of business organisations (Yemelyanov, Povarnitsyna, 1998).

The process of becoming a business psychology continues. It is accompanied by problems of self-determination in relation to other areas, above all, organisational and economic psychology. In recent years, papers have appeared in our country that reflect the very difficult process of the formation of a business psychology: “Economic Psychology” (A. L. Zhuravlev, O. S. Deineka et al.), “Business Psychology” (G. Bardier, N. Rysev et al.), “The Psychology of Business” (E. N. Yemelyanov, S. V. Povarnitsyna), “Business is Psychology” (M. Melia), “Economics and Psychology of Business” (A. I. Samoukin, N. V. Samoukina) and others.

The Business Psychology as a newest branch in psychology is actively developing. Each educational program, which works in line with the business psychological approach, contributes to the methodology and practice, which makes the palette of ideas about the psychology of business very diverse. At the same time, at least several approaches which largely determined the structure of the psychology of business can be distinguished.

Variety of approaches

At the conference were represented following approaches: the approach that is being developed at the University of Westminster (London); the approach of the team of teachers of the Master's program “Psychology in Business” at HSE (Moscow); the approach, which defined the contours of the MGIMO UNIVERSITY of MFA of Russia.

The University of Westminster approach

The University of Westminster approach was formed in the late 1990s and has been tested for almost 20 years at the University of Westminster (London). This approach to the content, functions and areas of business psychology was developed under the guidance of Professor Stephen Benton, who has been a board member of the Association of Business Psychologists in Great Britain, Director of the Center for Business Psychological Research and Head of the University of Westminster for a long time. S. Benton is essentially the founder of business psychology branch in applied psychology, a man who in 1998 opened at the University of Westminster (London) the first in the UK (and in the world) master program in Business Psychology. A few years later he set up the Center for Business Psychological Research, in which undergraduates and teachers of the program had the opportunity to carry out scientific research (Benton, Ivanova, 2016).

This approach reflects the philosophical understanding of modern conditions of business development in the world and the role of psychology in solving problems that a business faces. According to S. Benton, the modern dynamic and increasingly complex world has a serious impact on both the nature of the business and the personality of the people who create and support it. The business environment is becoming increasingly conflicting, even cruel to the person and his values. Therefore, it is important for psychologists to use the tools to deal with this conflict of the business world, to identify decision-making factors, to adjust constructive communication inside and outside the organisation, etc. This is beyond the abilities of psychologists, whose self-awareness is formed within narrow areas. To help business in making informed decisions, a holistic view of the psychologist on business, the ability to work in an interdisciplinary field, taking into account advances both in psychology and the management of organisations and the economy, etc. is necessary. According to Professor Benton, this is a daunting task that requires the consolidation of business psychologists, clarification and understanding of the goals of their training and professional development, constant exchange of experience in teaching and practice, searching for areas of cooperation (Benton, Ivanova, 2016). Within this approach, business psychologists are specialists who, knowing psychology, understanding in general the essence of business and management, can help businessmen to be able to: effective communications with different people; effective teams building, management of organisations with regard to the human factor; work on oneself, personal development to increase competitiveness and preserve mental well-being.

The model of business psychological competence of S. Benton is based on conceptual approaches to the development of personal and professional competences, which, interacting, contribute to the systematic growth of the sustainability of the organisation. The model allows to identify the functional strategic capabilities of a business psychologist at the following levels: individual (I), team or group (T) and organisation (O) -- levels of ITO. The model consists of five areas, each represents a collection of knowledge and related competencies. These specific areas are:

* individual differences;

* teamwork (group);

* negotiating (conflict resolution);

* making decisions;

* personal competence (the ability to think and act strategically).

It is important to emphasize that the role of personal competence reflects the goal of this model, aimed at expanding sets of behaviors at three levels (I, T, O). This is considered as a prerequisite for subsequent behavior and indicators of sustainability in the organisation. In order to achieve coherence in the organisation, the competences of each level (I, T, O) should be reflected.

In practice, these competences are unlikely to be combined if each of them is not inscribed in the language of competences of each level (I, T, O). One key factor for successful behavior within and between each level is the combination of a “level” of competence with a mental scheme that encourages and supports the ability to diagnostic and problems solving. This combination lays the foundation for coherence between the individual's ability to diagnose (D), problem solving (PS), planning (P) and bringing these diagnostic processes into effective behavior and actions. All these abilities are manifested at the level of the individual, team and organisation (I, T, O). The flexibility of the behavioral response, which is linked to the goals of the activity, is considered as the product of an effective personality, group and organisation strategies. Each of the main areas of competence, indicated above, is a source of focus of attention when solving tasks of communication and achieving interpersonal goals.

According to the model by S. Benton, personal competencies affect the ability to develop positive personal strategies that can enhance any level of basic competence. In order to achieve such coherence in complex and intense interactions, a number of key or base competencies must be developed as a starting point in building overall effectiveness. The starting point of the model is the competence of the psychologist in identifying and using individual differences. Competence in dealing with differences, such as: culture, personality, learning styles, types of conflicts, and communication styles is enhanced with integration in other core areas: teams, conflict resolution, decision-making facilitation, and personal competences.

Combined with strategic ability to diagnose, plan and act, individuals and groups are less susceptible to the negative impact of distorted and unsuccessful communications, which often accompany the communication of people and groups under pressure. In addition, it is argued that people and groups are much more able to maintain a focus on tasks when working with differences (diversity) longer with less influence of negative and protective behavior. The main argument is that the majority of “behavioral barriers”, performance disruptions arise from the shortcomings of managing individual differences that manifest in each of the main areas of the competency model.

In the approach by S. Benton, a way to harmonize personal, group, and organisational competences in such a way that individual differences and group diversity are used more effectively is laid down. This approach is implemented in the training of business psychologists at the University of Westminster, which includes five main blocks.

A) Individual differences. Personality features, behavioral responses in various situations, interpersonal communication and interaction styles are studied.

B) Team building and team management. Behavioral responses and attitudes are studied in the synergistic integration of various types of individual and group behavior.

C) Conflicts resolution. Negotiations as a way to conflicts resolve. Behavioral responses and attitudes are being studied to resolve disagreements at various levels of social interaction during negotiations. Special attention is paid to the psychological methods of building a dialogue and searching for mutually beneficial solutions.

D) Making decisions in a group. Behavioral responses for the synergistic resolution of disagreements in a group are studied.

D) Personal and professional competence. Behavioral responses and attitudes to resolve dispute when interacting with behaviors based on different approaches are explored.

The framework of these content-subject blocks includes the possibility of business psychology in realizing its main goal, namely: creating conditions in business to improve both personal functioning and organisation as a whole (Personal and Organisational Effectiveness). According to S. Benton, with such training, business psychologists will be able to direct the activity of managers and staff to develop a strategy that is adequate to the rapidly changing socio-economic conditions, to overcome difficulties and conflicts in organisations, to increase competitiveness and develop the organisation.

Developing this approach, K. Waddington added more theory and practice of working with human emotions to the learning structure. She believes that the success of modern business depends on the state of the emotional sphere of all business participants, on their ability to show humanity towards people. Emotions permeate all business processes: creation of business plan, brand building, business relationships, networking, teamwork, leadership and management etc. So, the another module of the program is the analysis of emotions and dealing with emotions.

Developing a Professional Role and Identity in Business Psychology

The UK Association of Business Psychology (ABP) has recently introduced a new Business Psychology certification process in order to: (i) facilitate professional benchmarking within the field; and (ii) provide a route to certification for ABP members that evidences their expertise, competencies and skills. To become a Certified Business Psychologist, practitioners need to demonstrate their understanding of the ways in which Business Psychology is applied effectively in order to improve performance for individuals and organisations. It sets out a three-stage career framework, building from entry level as an Associate Business Psychologist, to Fellowship of the ABP reflecting sustained and effective leadership in the field. The certification scheme is underpinned by the ABP values of: being inclusive: welcoming all those who embrace Business Psychology; being accessible: helping to make the application of Business Psychology user-friendly; promoting Business Psychology: raising awareness of the specialist value of Business Psychology for people and organisations; demonstrating best practice: sharing examples of Business Psychology's application; building capability: enabling the development of Business Psychology knowledge/skills.

Certification as a Business Psychologist also requires submission of evidence that demonstrates understanding and experience across the consulting cycle (i.e. advise, diagnose, design, implement and evaluate); professional business practice (e.g. business acumen and ethics); and in the following core areas of practice.

1. The Psychology of Selection and Assessment.

2. Strategy and Organisational Effectiveness.

3. The Psychology of Learning and Development.

4. Behavioural Science.

5. Human Motivation and Wellbeing.

It is important therefore that students, as trainee Business Psychologists, begin to develop a professional role and identity in the field from the outset of their studies. The Business Psychology Masters at the University of Westminster has recently introduced a new core module to the course: Evidence-based Practice and Business Psychology Consultancy. The module integrates into the MSc Business Psychology's BPsy curriculum model established by Stephen Benton, and its aims are to: provide students with an evidence-based practice approach to Business Psychology consultancy; develop consultancy skills and competence underpinned by relevant theoretical and ethical frameworks and concepts; promote critical reflective practice, self and peer assessment.

Students engage with case-study consultancy scenarios in the role of Business Psychology Student Consultants, exploring both internal and external consultancy roles. This has been achieved through active participation and internal partnership working with the University's Human Resources Organisational Development team. Student Consultants drew upon tools introduced and used in the modules Facilitated Decision Making, and Organisational Diagnostics: Tools and Approaches, (which are components of the BPsy model) to advise on ways of communicating the University's 2018-2023 strategy. Graduates of the course who are established Business Psychologists are also involved in teaching to share their experience, knowledge and skills.

The assessment strategy for Evidence-based Practice and Business Psychology Consultancy is aligned to Stage One -- Associate Business Psychologist -- of the ABP certification scheme, enabling students to: (i) provide evidence of engagement with the consulting cycle; (ii) demonstrate theoretical knowledge and engagement with core areas of practice and ABP values; and (iii) engage with continuous professional development (CPD) activities. There are three assessed components.

(1) A consultancy pitch presentation. (2) A real-world case-study scenario requiring a Business Psychology consultancy intervention, produced as a concept map and supported by an evidence- based annotated bibliography. (3) A Process Report which includes critical reflection upon engagement and learning in the module, a consultancy profile and action plan for future CPD. When combined with learning and research undertaken during the Business Psychology Masters course as a whole, students are well prepared and ready to enter the field of professional practice in Business Psychology.

The HSE approach to business psychology

As noted above, at the HSE Department of Psychology, on the basis of the Master's program “Psychology in Business”, an approach to business psychology is being developed and filled with new content. Due to this activity, two textbooks were published (Ivanova, Mikhailova, Stroh, 2008; Antonova, Ivanova, Stroh, 2014), an international monograph (2016), several collections of articles on this subject (2011; 2013; 2015). According to this approach, business is considered not only as a profitable activity, which is also important, but, above all, as a complexly organized system aimed at creating products and services with properties that are in demand by society or groups of people. The main function of the business is the creation of products and services with new properties demanded by society (Ivanova, Mikhailova, Stroh, 2008). The structure of business psychology is based on the following aspects of business analysis.

* Activity (professional). Business is a special activity aimed at making a profit, and imposing certain requirements on the personality of the contractor (businessman).

* Organisational. Business can function only in the conditions of an organisation; therefore, in this context it has its own patterns of rise and functioning.

* Environmental (sociological, market, etc.). Business is among the most important social institutions of society, therefore, on the one hand, it depends on society, market situation, etc., on the other, it has a significant impact on social structures and order in society, socialization of citizens and standards of social behavior.

Accordingly, the activity of a businessman is considered holistically in the relationship of various aspects of the life activity of business entities. A businessman, thanks to his psychological qualities and a certain professional competence, develops his business, builds an organisation, defines its mission and strategy, and ultimately determines the appearance of business as a social institution. The role of a business psychologist is to help him to establish, implement and develop a business according to the problems faced by the businessman and business and the tools that the psychologist himself has. In other words, by working on a specific task, a business psychologist is able to present a more holistic picture in which this task originated and, based on this, seek an adequate solution.

Important to note, that business psychologists act as generalists. Understanding the general meaning of business and management, they can successfully apply their psychological knowledge in the field of HR, organisational and individual counseling and coaching, studying consumer behavior and others. In addition, business psychologists can help businessmen to improve their efficiency and competitiveness, not to lose their “human face”, to be capable of personal growth, effective communication with people.

Moreover business psychologists are considered as specialists who, knowing psychology, can help businessmen to be able to communicate effectively with different people, manage organisations taking into account the human factor, work on self-improvement, personal development to improve competitiveness and preservation of mental well-being.

Business psychologists have task-oriented training to work in business organisations. They should be able to show high efficiency in self-management, management of the organisation, development of communications, image. They should also have more opportunities to understand the life of the organisation and develop effective relationships.

The content of the HSE program “Psychology in Business” is based on this conceptual basis. The program is interdisciplinary in nature, based on work and industrial psychology, social and organisational psychology, the psychology of personality, but it is also open to other areas in psychology and humanities (Ivanova, Mikhailova, Stroh, 2008).

Training includes learning of business-psychological technologies at the market level (consumer behavior, branding, product launch to the market and its promotion), at the organisation level (organisational changes and development, team building, group problem solving, leadership and cooperation) and at the personal level (individual decision-making, values, goals, personal branding, professional development). Training courses of the program allow to get acquainted with all the selected areas and form the appropriate practical skills.

Emphasize again that the content of the program is based on the subject areas of work and industrial psychology, social and organisational psychology, personality psychology, but it is also open to other areas in psychology and humanities. The program is aimed at individual or collective performance improvement business.

Students learn to analyze business as an organisation, activity and social institution, study its impact on the social and professional development of a person; master the principles and technologies of psychological support of business organisations, individual and group counseling and coaching, the organisation of in-house training, marketing research, etc. All this helps them to prepare for the performance of a business psychologist: consulting, training, expert, research, project activities.

The program “Psychology in Business” annually monitors the relevance of business psychologists in practice, which helps to improve the learning process. We can say with certainty that these specialists are now in demand in the labor market, both in our country and abroad, because they have competencies in making effective decisions, facilitating group processes and organisational changes, and optimizing external and internal organisational communications. Employers note that business psychologists, compared with the psychologists of the classical form of training, show greater efficiency in adaptation to the business environment, communication with the management and staff of organisations, professional identification that is understandable to business and ways to communicate information, etc. That's why they are on demand in work with personnel, in organisational, personnel, management consulting. There is a growing market for psychological services from banks, large industrial holdings, medium and small enterprises, and trade organisations.

An important stage in the development of a business psychological approach at HSE is the development of new approaches to practical activities, such as business psychological consulting (Eliseenko, Ivanova, 2018; Ivanov, Stroh, 2018).

The MGIMO University approach to the business psychology

Moscow State Institute of International Relations, MGIMO University, according to University Charter, is accountable to the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, which essentially determines the specifics of its educational activities. MGIMO University has a variety of opportunities for the organisation, implementation and development of both fundamental and applied research, and their implementation in the educational process. The University created educational and methodical associations of training areas: “Political science and regional studies” and carrying out the functions of the basic educational institution of higher education in the areas of training “International relations”, “Foreign regional studies”, `Advertising and public relations”. Business psychology is a modern branch of applied psychology, which significantly complements the training program of future diplomats. Therefore, MGIMO University is developing its own approach to business psychology. In the structure of MGIMO University approach to business psychology it is possible to distinguish two types of components -- the institutional, and educational (objects). Let's examine them.

The contours of the institutional approach of the MGIMO University

to the psychology of business

Colleagues consider the relevant context of official documents of the Russian Federation and speeches of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs S. Lavrov as a starting point for understanding the role of psychology in diplomacy and business. Thus, the foreign policy Concept of the Russian Federation, approved by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation on November 30, 2016, notes that “strengthening Russia's positions in the system of world economic relations, non-discrimination of Russian goods, services, investments, the use of international organisations and the promotion of international development is one of the mechanisms for solving global and regional problems, strengthening international security and political stability”. The task of parity development of international relations and foreign economic relations set in this document assumes activation of all possible mechanisms, including psychological, for obtaining significant results in the Russian policy and economy.

Colleagues from MGIMO University find an appeal to the subject of business psychology in the statements of Minister S. Lavrov devoted to the analysis of the relationship of diplomacy with the development of business and society. He said that today only Russian companies can and do play the main role in protecting their interests. At the same time, ensuring non-discriminatory conditions for their activities, as well as creating a favorable regulatory environment for economic activity, is one of the most important tasks facing the Russian Foreign Ministry. At the same time, maintaining constant and effective contact with the business community is one of the key conditions for successful economic diplomacy... Cooperation between diplomacy and business is beneficial for both sides. The strengthening of Russia's international positions helps the domestic business community to develop foreign markets, and progress in this direction allows us to reveal our foreign policy potential more fully and with greater efficiency (Lavrov, 2009).

Today, the concept of “business diplomacy” has entered the diplomatic turn of speech. And it was not accidental. It was specified and used in almost all meetings of the Minister with representatives of foreign business circles. Therefore, today the business community, business diplomacy has a special role in maintaining trust and mutual understanding between the peoples (Lavrov, 2016). And then at a meeting in Moscow on October 31, 2017 with members of the Association of European business in Russia, S. Lavrov again stressed the foreign policy mission of business. He said that business itself knows what is in its interests. If he simply brings his position that he needs a different atmosphere to our and your leaders, then this will probably be the right thing to do (Lavrov, 2017).

Thus, the practice of international relations has led to an understanding of the equal importance of diplomacy and business for the development of the country. The question of what connects these concepts, these professional spheres of activity and their representatives at the deep level? Colleagues answer this question that psychology, more precisely, psychological mechanisms of professional activity in business are a kind of intermediate variable between diplomacy and business. Therefore, business psychology is reflected in the educational programs of the University subordinated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- MGIMO University.

Outlines the educational approach of the MGIMO University to the business psychology

Emphasizing the importance of the psychological component in the training of international students, let us focus on the practice of the educational process of MGIMO University and the place of business psychology in it. If we look at the overall situation of representation of specific issues of business psychology in the educational process of MGIMO University, it turns out that in most faculties to some extent these issues are reflected, or have a potential educational niche. Traditionally, the most widely implemented issues of business psychology at the faculty of international economic relations, where in addition to the basic course of psychology for bachelors read courses on psychology of management and psychology of leadership with the basics of business psychological approach.

For undergraduates of the faculty of applied Economics and Commerce Department of pedagogy and psychology developed and read the course “Psychology in business”. Methodological support of this course is aimed at transforming the results of educational activities into a system of personal achievements of international students by mastering the culture of thinking, the ability to perceive, generalize, analyze information; a broad professional Outlook using psychological knowledge; heuristic skills to solve problem situations; skills of logical construction and monitoring of professional reasoning and statements in the decision-making process; basic repertoire of interactive techniques and individual algorithms of communication; management decision-making technologies in a multicultural environment (Makhmutova, 2018).

At the faculty of international relations in the framework of discussion of the problems of the world economy is considered the theme “State and entrepreneurship: property relations and forms of business”, in which it is possible to use business psychological knowledge. The faculty of international journalism teaches a course of psychology, in some topics of which (personality, communication, etc.) bachelors get acquainted with examples from the psychology of business. The faculty of international business and business administration, which trains future managers in the field of foreign economic activity, presents bachelor's and master's courses in organisational behavior, leadership, new technologies in business, management consulting -- disciplines with high business psychological potential.

Dynamic development of business psychology issues takes place in the School of business and international competencies in all areas of its work: professional retraining (Coaching for the business environment, International Protocol and business communications), professional development, corporate programs, and youth school of international diplomacy. In scientific cooperation with the faculty of management and political science, the School of business and international competences has been implementing the program “Business and international relations” for students of leading American universities together with the Council for international educational exchanges of the United States for five years. This program can serve as another educational platform for the development of business-psychological approach in MGIMO University. Summing up the preliminary result, we can state a large scientific and practical capacity of various educational and scientific departments of the University for the development of business psychology in MGIMO University. The issues of business psychology at MGIMO University are specialized for a specific direction or profile of bachelors, masters or students of various programs. Business psychology in MGIMO University has optimistic prospects for further development.

It was interesting to learn that the development of business psychology has optimistic prospects at MGIMO University. Rector of MGIMO University University academician A. Torkunov, noted that studies of MSUIR professors in recent years testify to the emergence of a new direction in pedagogics and psychology of higher school, which included, among other “psychology of international relations” (Torkunov, 2013, p. 8). Within the psychology of international relations, we can talk about the psychology of business in the international context.

In particular, in the training of international affairs specialists in the area of Trade and Management. The report showed that the multidimensionality of the psychological component of the training of specialists in international affairs was manifested both in the theory and methodology of teaching foreign languages, translation in the field of professional communication, and in interdisciplinary studies of the features of the negotiation process, in preparation for intercultural communication, including international business. The development of these areas in MGIMO University has a positive impact on the quality of specialized education (Makhmutova, 2017).

Summing up the description of the business psychological approaches

Summing up the description of the business psychological approaches on which the idea and content of the conference is based, we note that the above-presented vision of business psychology at HSE and the University of Westminster has much in common. We emphasize once again that this is not accidental. This is due to the fact that the graduate program “Psychology in Business” at HSE has long cooperated with the program “Business Psychology” at the University of Westminster. Moreover, for several years this cooperation has been carried out with the participation of the Master's program in Business Psychology at the London Metropolitan University, where our colleague Nigel Merlow implemented principles and methods in consonance with the Russian business psychologists in education.

Therefore, it can be said that thanks to the cooperation of business psychologists from Russia and the UK, the approach to business psychology which today attracts more and more conference participants and is also becoming more recognizable in business and society has emerged.

Business psychological content of the conference

The conference program traditionally included three parts: the opening ceremony, the presentations of the speakers and workshops. Taking into account the anniversary format of the conference, the opening ceremony presented both welcoming words and reports on the history, current state and trends in the development of business psychology in Russia and the world. The content of the reports reflected the approach to business psychology that has developed at HSE. Presented reports reflected all the main areas of research in the field of business psychology: the activities and personality of a businessman; organisation as an instrument of business; socio-cultural environment for business development, etc.

The opening ceremony

The conference was opened by Doctor of psychology, Professor N. L. Ivanova, Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, Academic Head of the Master's Program “Psychology in Business” at HSE, co-founder of the Association of Business Psychologists of Russia. N. L. Ivanova presented a brief excursion into the history of the creation of business psychology in Russia, the areas of research in her report: Business Psychology Today. If you go back to the moment of emergence of this direction in Russia, it is important to recall the year 2004, when at HSE, in the Chair of Organisational Psychology of the Faculty of Psychology (Head Professor W. Stroh), the Master's program “Psychology in Business” was opened (academic head Professor N .L. Ivanova). A great contribution to the development of the program was made by the scientific director of the psychology department of the HSE, Professor V. D. Shadrikov and Professor L. A. Petrovskaya, the founder of the theory and practice of socio-psychological training in our country. It was thanks to a team of highly qualified specialists that the first Russian program for training psychologists for business and later - a research and training group on the study of psychological problems in business were created. This played an important role in the development of the psychology of business in our country. At present, the “Psychology in Business” program team is working on the establishment of a Center for Business Psychological Research, in which undergraduates and teachers of the program will be able to carry out scientific and practical activities.

The report noted that such a development of business psychology at HSE would have been impossible without the development of scientific and methodological contacts with colleagues from the UK -- the place where this branch was first created in the world. The contribution of the authors of the first training programs for business psychologists in London -- Nigel Merlow, Dimitrios Tsivrikos (London Metropolitan University) and Stephen Benton (The University of Westminster) was greatly appreciated. Thanks to this collaboration, the content of the courses on the Psychology in Business program at HSE was developed. This process took into account the experience of training business psychologists at leading universities in the UK, as well as results of monitoring of the psychologists' competencies demand in Russian business. Thus, the principles of education of business psychologists were formed: an integrated approach, advanced tools and world-class practices with ease of giving information.

In report emphasized the essence of the approach to the training of business psychologists at HSE. She showed that in today's turbulent socio-economic conditions, businesses need specialists who possess the knowledge and technology to improve the organisation management system. Business psychologists need to be able to build psychologically-competent communications systematically, to help businesses identify psychologically determined problems and effectively deal with them. At the same time, it is a psychologist who understands the meaning of business and can comprehensively perceive the problem situation, seek its solution at various levels: from the individual to the socio¬cultural. This is possible only on the basis of a clear understanding of one's place and purpose in business, using a wide range of psychological knowledge and technologies. Therefore, in the training of business psychologists, the process of self-determination of the individual, the mechanisms for the formation of social and professional identity, on the basis of which the goals and objectives of business activities are clarified plays an important role.

N. L. Ivanova also stressed that the development ofbusiness psychology, professional development of business psychologists also require the consolidation of the business psychological community, the constant exchange of experience and the search for directions for further development. The first scientific and practical seminars on business psychology were the part of the educational process, a platform for the exchange of ideas, results, methods, etc. Then they turned into the largest scientific events, which has been holding as International Conference on Business Psychology since 2014 every year (see eg Ivanova, Stroh, 2016; 2018).

Today we can say that the annual international scientific and practical conferences on the psychology of business have already become the calling card of the HSE undergraduate program “Psychology in Business”. These conferences are interdisciplinary, give an idea of the different approaches to research and their practical application in the field of entrepreneurship and business, and therefore attract a wide range of participants from different fields. This year, traditionally, the conference was attended by university teachers and students, consultants, company executives, entrepreneurs, etc.

Welcome speech "Business Psychology in the HSE" was made to the conference participants by M. V. Falikman, Head of Psychology Department, National Research University Higher School of Economics, PhD, professor. M. V. Falikman stressed that in our time in the world there is a most rapid growth in the development of psychology among all the sciences of human, new scientific directions are emerging. This is reflected in the activities of the HSE Department of Psychology, in basic research in such areas as general psychology, social and cross-cultural psychology, cognitive psychology and psychophysiology, etc. The department is also developing as a center for practice-oriented areas, among which business psychology takes a worthy place. Historically, representatives of the Chair of Organisational Psychology of the Department who developed one of the first practice-oriented master programs of the Department of Psychology in Business were involved in the development of this area. Now the development of business psychology is based on the master program. The annual international conference on business psychology is organized by a team of teachers of this particular master program. M.V. Falikman hoped that, thanks to the conference, the development of business psychology would receive a new impetus, and the participants would be satisfied with the level of reports and master classes, and gain new contacts for their professional development.

Welcome address from the Russian Association of Business Psychologists (ABP) was made by O.I. Khodzinskaya, Vice-President of Russian Association of Business Psychologists, member of the Association of Business Psychologists of Great Britain (ABP), business psychologist, consultant, coach. O. I. Khodzinskaya stressed the importance of founding the professional community of business psychologists, formation a creative and productive environment for the professional development of these specialists. The participants were interested to learn about the history of the creation of the ABP in Russia. This happened in 2013, when at the conference “Business. Society. Human” in 2013, the constituent assembly of the ABP was held in partnership with colleagues from the UK. This meeting was attended by colleagues from many cities in Russia. They joined in a discussion of the goals and objectives of the ABP, the relevance and prospects for the establishment of this professional association. During the discussion, some important decisions were made on the registration of the association, as well as on the main directions of its activities. In 2104, the certificate of state registration of the Association as a non-profit organisation was received and its official website was created: http://abp-rus.com/ O. I. Khodzinskaya told about the current state and plans for the development of the ABP, the benefits that membership in this organisation gives to the practitioners, and highlighted the problems of growth in the new direction, the need for a clear positioning among other approaches and trends in applied psychology.

Speaker presentations

The presentation "Paradoxes of business psychology in the conditions of uncertainty", by the President of Russian Association of Business Psychologists, Doctor of Psychology, professor of Moscow State University by M. Lomonosov T. Yu. Bazarov dealt with substantive issues of positioning business psychology among other actively developing areas of applied psychology. The report was distinguished by its depth and reliance on serious scientific research. He showed that the psychology of business give answers to well-known paradoxes of management, which is difficult find from the perspective of a single approach. Among these paradoxes are such as: “establish close relations with the staff and keep an appropriate distance”, “lead openly and remain in the shadow”, “trust the staff and keep track of everything that happens”, etc. On the basis of socio-psychological research, the report highlighted the situations that project managers face today, and the research and practical activity with them which is included in the subject field of business psychology. This is increasing complexity of the management process, changes in decision-making speeds, readiness for any future, the desire to formalize everything, a change in the role of a leader in an organisation, etc.

The report highlighted important issues that are included in the arsenal of scientific and practical activities of business psychologists. In particular: How to combine individual and collective goals? How to combine competition and cooperation? How to combine the functioning and development? How to combine leadership and self-management / self-organisation?