A critical analysis of the role of the newcomer within organizational structure : investigation study of organizational socialization

Abstract

The concept of organizational socialization has traditionally been viewed as a one way process by which a newcomer is molded into an organizational member. In the present study, the view of socialization was considers as reciprocal process. It was expanded from both the organization and the newcomer experience in the organization.

In order to capture the relationship within the organization studied, a structural perspective (Giddens, 1984) was adopted. It was possible to examine that the newcomers impacted the existing patterns and practices in the organization. The study involved a detailed analysis of the patterns and practices of 4 faculties in Eastern Asia University both before and after new faculty members joined the university. It was theorized that faculties that received newcomers who were different from the other faculty members in tems of demographic would experience reorientation. On the other hand, the faculties that received newcomers who were similar to the other faculty members in terns of demographic would experience inertia. Detailed results for these patterns are provided.

Communicative interactions between newcomers and existing members are crucial to newcomers’ successful socialization. The opportunity to explore the interaction between deliberate socialization tactics and other factors made the university an ideal study site. The study examined values, beliefs, and behaviors that newcomers reported, and how existing members influences on their values, beliefs, and behaviors. In-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis were used to obtain qualitative data about socialization process from both the university’s and faculty member’s perspectives.

The study found that although faculty members’ reported values, beliefs, and behaviors in a relation to a large number of selected attributes varied, the results were largely positive for Eastern Asia University. The variety of implication for future research is provided.