Prof. Maxwell Amoah Asumeng
Professor Maxwell Asumeng is Associate Professor of Industrial & Organisational Psychology and former Head of the Department of Psychology. Professor Asumeng received his BA (Hons) Psychology, MPhil (Industrial & Organisational Psychology) from the University of Ghana, and PhD in Industrial, Organisational and Occupational Psychology from the University of Surrey, UK. His doctoral research was concerned with the psychology of performance management in organisational, business and managerial contexts. Professor Asumeng is a licensed professional Industrial/Organisational and Occupational Psychologist. His expertise lies in organisational theorizing and behaviour, personnel selection, applied psychometrics and psychological testing including occupational testing, personnel management, organisational structuring, work design, organisational development and change, and development of managerial competency models. He is a scientist, academic, researcher, practitioner and consultant in his area of expertise He has taught several masters and doctoral level courses in industrial psychology, organisational behaviour and human resources management. He has mentored and supervised over seventy MPhil/PhD candidates in the University of Ghana and other Universities
Research Areas
The psychology of work and performance management in managerial, organizational and business contexts.
Development of managerial competencies: intra-personal, interpersonal, leadership, career and mentoring skills.
How Organisational Development Intervention Models can be applied to industrial/organisational and non- industrial and organisational settings such as social, education and health .
Current Research Project
An investigation of the psychometric properties of the African Career Interest Inventory in Ghana. Given the need for vocational guidance and counseling and the need for locally developed instruments to be used in Africa, this study sets out to determine if the African Career Interest Inventory (ACII) can be used as a reliable and valid measure of vocational interests in the Ghanaian context. Specifically the study aims to investigate if (a) the six ACII scales are reliable measures of vocational interests and if (b) there is clear evidence for circular/hexagonal structure in the scale inter-correlations in Ghana. The scale has been validated to be used in South Africa. This is a collaborative study by Prof Asumeng and his colleague Industrial/Organisational and Social Psychologists from the University of Ghana, University of Johannesburg, University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University. The findings are expected to have implications for occupational guidance, testing and personnel selection in Ghana. The project is funded by The Rupert Education Foundation and Stellenbosch University’s Social Impact Faculty Grant.
4. Teaching
Ethics & Professional Skills- Business Ethics; Organisational Interventions, Development and Change; Advanced Topics in Psychology; Organisation Theory; Organisational Behaviour; Contemporary Issues in Industrial and Organisational Psychology; Accidents and Safety at the Workplace; Human Relations in Organisations; Personnel Psychology; Industrial & Organisational Psychology.
5. Scientific Publications
Book Chapters
Asumeng, M.A. & Agyemang,C. B. (2015). Old but young: Over 30 years of Industrial and Organisational Psychology in Ghana- Practice, challenges and prospects. In N. Taylor (ed.) The Histories Project: Perspectives of Psychology in Africa. Pp. 27-32. Johannesburg. JVR Psychometrics Press.
Asumeng, M.A. Amponsah, B. & Opoku, J.Y. (2014). Psychological Research and Applications. In C.S. Akotia & C. C. Mate-Kole (eds.) Contemporary Psychology Readings from Ghana. Pp. 21-38. University of Ghana Readers. Accra. Digibooks Ghana Ltd.
Asumeng, M.A. & Opoku, J.Y. (2014). Psychological Testing. In C.S. Akotia & C. C. Mate-Kole (eds.) Contemporary Psychology Readings from Ghana. Pp. 39-49. University of Ghana Readers. Accra. Digibooks Ghana Ltd.
Asumeng, M.A. & Kumako, S. (2014). Industrial and Organisational Psychology. In C.S. Akotia & C. C. Mate-Kole (eds.) Contemporary Psychology Readings from Ghana. Pp. 147-162. University of Ghana Readers. Accra. Digibooks Ghana Ltd.
Peer –Reviewed Journal Articles
Brandon, M., Teye-Kwadjo, E., Asumeng, M. A. Rabie, S., Naidoo, A.V. & de Bruin, G.P. (2021. Psychometric properties of the African Career Interest Inventory in Ghana. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-021-09499-8
Tetteh, J. & Asumeng, M. A. (2020). Succession planning and career development programmes in selected organisations in Ghana. African Journal of Management Research. 27(1),
Anokye, N. E. & Asumeng, M. A. (2019). Psychological capital and achievement motivation as predictors of work engagement: A study of micro and small-scale entrepreneurs in Accra, Ghana. Ife Psychologia Journal, 27(2),62-73
Asumeng, M.A., & Folitse, B. Y. (2019) Occupational Hazards, safety culture and behaviour: A study of fishermen in Jamestown, Accra. Ghana Social Science Journal, 16(1), 1-22.
Darkwah, E., Daniel, M., & Asumeng, M. A. (2018) The impact of organizational structure and funding sources on the work and health of employed caregivers in Children’s Homes in Ghana. Occupational Health Sciences . https://doi.org/10.1007s41542-018-0020-x
Asamani, L., Agyemang, B. C. Afful, J & Asumeng, M. A. (2018) Improving work attitudes of Ghanaian nurses for quality health care delivery: Application of Individual and Organisational Centered Interventions. International Journal of Research Studies in Management Siences 7(1), 37-46
Darkwah, E., Asumeng, M. A., & Daniel, M. (2017) Caring for ‘parentless’ children : An exploration of stressors and resources experienced by care workers in Children’s Homes in Ghana. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 8(2), 59-89.
Opoku-Mensah, A., Asamani, L. & Asumeng, M. A. (2017) The effect of marital status on psychological distress among single and partnered mothers in Ghana: The moderating role of employment status. International Journal of Research Studies in Psychology, 6(2), 57—71.
Darkwa, E., Daniel, M. & Asumeng, M.A.(2016). Caregiver perceptions of children in their care and motivations for the care work in Ghana: Children of God or children of white men? Children and Youth Services Review, 66 (C), 161-169.
Agyemang, C. B., Asumeng, M.A. & Amponsah, B. (2015). The relevance of Ghanaian Akan proverbs in contemporary human resources principles and corporate values. Journal of Business Research, 9, 16-27.
Oppong, S., Dickson, E. & Asumeng, M.A. (2015). Implementation of Single Spine Pay Policy in public sector in Ghana: Analysis and recommendations from organizational development perspective. Business Excellence, 9 (2), 83-99..
Asumeng, M.A. & Ossae L. J. (2015). Organisation Development Models : Critical review and the implication for the creation of learning organisations. European Journal of Training and Development Studies,3(2), 29-43.
Asumeng, M.A. , Agyemang C.B. Afful, J. & Asamani, L. (2015). Occupational Safety and Health Issues in Ghana: Strategies for improving employee health and safety at the workplace. International Journal of Business and Management Review,3(9), 60-79.
Froko, I. F., Asumeng, M.A. & Nyarko, K. (2015). The impact of Safety climate on safety performance in a gold mining company in Ghana. International Journal of Management Research Excellence, 5 (1), 556-566.
Asumeng, M.A., Coleman, A. & Dadzie, J.J (2015). Addressing psychosocial hazards and improving employee psychological well-being in the banking industry in Ghana: Application of Organisational Development intervention using Action Research Model. American Journal of Applied Psychology,4 (5),120-128.
Asumeng, M.A. (2014). Managerial Competence Models: A critical review and proposed Holistic-Domain Model. Journal of Management Research, 6(4), 1-20.
Nyarko, K., Adentwi, K.I., Asumeng, M.A. & Ahulu. L.D. (2014). Parental attitude towards sex education at the lower primary in Ghana. International Journal of Primary Education, 3(2), 21-29.
Froko, I., Asumeng, M.A. & Nyarko, K. (2014). Safety climate as a predictor of quality of work life: An empirical study among miners in Ghana. European Journal of Business and Management, 6(18), 107-116.
Asumeng, M.A (2014). Managers’ feedback seeking about their job performance: Empirical study and preliminary conceptual model. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 2(12),135-149.
Acquah, C. A., & Asumeng, M.A. (2014). Customization of transfer of training to the job: A qualitative study among bank managers in Ghana. International Journal of Human Resources Studies,4(1), 171-189.
Dotse, J, & Asumeng, M.A. (2014). Power distance as moderator of the relationship between organizational leadership style and employee work attitudes: An empirical study in Ghana. International Journal of Management Science and Business Research, 3(5), 63-76.
Lawson, V.W . Akotia, C.S. & Asumeng, M.A. (2014). Exploring ethnocentrism, stereotypes and prejudice among some major ethnic groups in Ghana. Journal of Social Science Studies, 2 (1),17-35.
Lawson, V.W ., Asumeng, M.A. & Akotia C.S (2014). Psycho-social determinants of ethnocentrism: among four major ethnic groups in Ghana. Advances in Social Sciences Research, 1(6)145-154
Oppong, S., Agyemang B, C. & Asumeng, M.A. (2014). Planning corporate post-acquisition integration: Application of social penetration theory and managerial implications. International Journal of Business and Management Review, 2(1), 13-25.
Agyemang , C. B. & Asumeng, M.A. (2013). Perceived organizational justice and employees’ organisational citizenship behavior in Ghana. European Journal of Business and Management, 5(19), 144-150.
Asumeng, M.A (2013). The effect of employee feedback-seeking on job performance: An empirical study. International Journal of Management, 30, 1(2), 373-388.
Kumako, S. K. & Asumeng, M. A. (2013). Transformational leadership as a moderator of the relationship between psychological safety and work behavior in work teams in Ghana. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 39 (1), 1-9.
Asumeng , M. A. ( 2012). Managers’ feedback seeking propensities on their intra-personal, inter-personal and leadership skills: An empirical study. African Journal of Management Research, 21(1), 33-47.
Asumeng, M A. Millward, L.P. & McDowall, A. (2010). ‘Catch me if you can?’ A psychological analysis of managers’ feedback seeking. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 25(4)385-407.
6. Conference Proceedings
He has presented several papers at national and international conferences.
7. Extension Activities
Professor Maxwell Asumeng serves as external supervisor of Doctoral, MPhil/MBA thesis and external examiner for some reputable Psychology Departments and Management/Business Schools. He consults for some reputable public and private organizations, institutions and business settings in Ghana, particularly, in the following areas: Development of Human Resources/Personnel Management Manuals including performance management/appraisal designs; Development and validation of personnel selection and placement tools/instruments; Occupational Testing, Personnel Recruitment, Selection and Placement activities; and Personnel Training and Development Programmes.