Intelligence and the modern world of work

Research has clearly established that intelligence is one of the most important individual differences in human resource management (HR) and industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology. Despite its importance and the dramatic changes that have occurred in the world of work, the conceptualization and use of intelligence in workplace processes have changed very little over the past sixty years. In many other fields (e.g., cognitive and developmental psychology, and the neurosciences) researchers have made considerable progress in understanding this critical and complex construct and its role in the modern world. These developments have not only propelled our thinking about intelligence forward, but have also led to the reconsideration of a number of “truths” about intelligence. However, this modern research and thinking has minimally impacted the fields of HR and I/O psychology. The goal of this special issue is to introduce HR and I/O researchers and practitioners to modern thinking on intelligence as well as some of the innovations and developments in the conceptualization, use, and measurement of intelligence that have the potential to impact practice and research in the workplace.