Publisher
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Place of Publication
Chattanooga (Tenn.)
Abstract
This abstract details my internship experience at State Farm where I contributed to organizational development initiatives while gaining hands-on experience in applying research to corporate challenges. State Farm is one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the United States and is recognized for its strong customer focus and comprehensive range of products, including auto, home, life, and health insurance. I secured my internship position with State Farm after initially applying through LinkedIn for an Industrial-Organizational Psychology internship. Shortly after, I was contacted by a recruiter regarding a separate, but equally exciting, internship opportunity with the Organizational Development (OD) team. During my internship, I worked alongside the Organizational Effectiveness department and the Strategic Workforce Planning department (integral departments to the OD team) to conduct research on critical topics such as span of control and demand planning for future skills. I developed concise literature reviews to support the creation of various organizational development tools and strategies and ensure that they were grounded in the latest research. My work contributed to the organization’s efforts to refine its management structures and plan for future talent needs. This experience allowed me to directly contribute to the organization’s decision-making processes by applying theoretical concepts to practical challenges. Beyond my work in OD, I worked on an intern capstone project aimed at enhancing the intern experience. This was a collaborative effort with other HR interns in which we developed strategies and recommendations to improve the intern program. This internship experience aligns closely with the conference themes of Employee Value Propositions (EVPs), becoming an employer of choice, and managing employee expectations. By developing tools that help leaders make data-driven decisions regarding organizational design, the work I was involved in supports the company's efforts to attract and retain top talent. Additionally, my focus on demand planning for future skills highlights State Farm's commitment to staying ahead of workforce trends, thus positioning itself as an employer of choice by proactively managing employee expectations and preparing the organization for the evolving needs of its workforce. I learned valuable lessons about translating theoretical research into practical applications. I also gained insights into how to navigate a relationship-oriented organization, particularly in a virtual work environment. Overall, I gained a deeper understanding of how OD principles can be applied within a large established corporation and strengthened my ability to operate in a collaborative virtual work environment.
Date
11-9-2024
Subject
Industrial and organizational psychology
Document Type
posters
Language
English
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Included in
Like a good neighbor, State Farm's OD insights are there
This abstract details my internship experience at State Farm where I contributed to organizational development initiatives while gaining hands-on experience in applying research to corporate challenges. State Farm is one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the United States and is recognized for its strong customer focus and comprehensive range of products, including auto, home, life, and health insurance. I secured my internship position with State Farm after initially applying through LinkedIn for an Industrial-Organizational Psychology internship. Shortly after, I was contacted by a recruiter regarding a separate, but equally exciting, internship opportunity with the Organizational Development (OD) team. During my internship, I worked alongside the Organizational Effectiveness department and the Strategic Workforce Planning department (integral departments to the OD team) to conduct research on critical topics such as span of control and demand planning for future skills. I developed concise literature reviews to support the creation of various organizational development tools and strategies and ensure that they were grounded in the latest research. My work contributed to the organization’s efforts to refine its management structures and plan for future talent needs. This experience allowed me to directly contribute to the organization’s decision-making processes by applying theoretical concepts to practical challenges. Beyond my work in OD, I worked on an intern capstone project aimed at enhancing the intern experience. This was a collaborative effort with other HR interns in which we developed strategies and recommendations to improve the intern program. This internship experience aligns closely with the conference themes of Employee Value Propositions (EVPs), becoming an employer of choice, and managing employee expectations. By developing tools that help leaders make data-driven decisions regarding organizational design, the work I was involved in supports the company's efforts to attract and retain top talent. Additionally, my focus on demand planning for future skills highlights State Farm's commitment to staying ahead of workforce trends, thus positioning itself as an employer of choice by proactively managing employee expectations and preparing the organization for the evolving needs of its workforce. I learned valuable lessons about translating theoretical research into practical applications. I also gained insights into how to navigate a relationship-oriented organization, particularly in a virtual work environment. Overall, I gained a deeper understanding of how OD principles can be applied within a large established corporation and strengthened my ability to operate in a collaborative virtual work environment.
Department
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Dept. of Psychology