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Assimilation Process. Chapter Seven. What is Assimilation?. Jablin: Assimilation is “those ongoing behavioral and cognitive processes by which individuals join, become integrated into and exit organizations”. Models of Organizational Socialization. Phases of Socialization
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Assimilation Process Chapter Seven
What is Assimilation? • Jablin: Assimilation is “those ongoing behavioral and cognitive processes by which individuals join, become integrated into and exit organizations”
Models of Organizational Socialization • Phases of Socialization • Anticipatory Socialization • Socialization that occurs before entry into the organization. Encompasses both socialization to an occupation and socialization to an organization. (p. 146) • Encounter • Sensemaking stage that occurs when a new employee enters the organization. The newcomer must let go of old roles and values in adapting to the expectations of the new organization. (p. 149) • Metamorphosis • The state reached at the “completion” of the socialization process. The new employee is now accepted as an organizational insider. (p. 150)
Content of Socialization • “What must be learned in order to adapt to the organizational context.” (p. 150) • Role related information- “information, skills, procedures, and rules that that an individual must grasp in order to perform on the job.” (p. 150) • Organizational Culture-Not much formal documentation. Must rely on observation of behaviors, stories and “memorable messages”. (p. 151)
Summary of Socialization Models • Phase Models- help to understand “when” employees become socialized • Anticipatory • Encounter • Metamorphasis • Content Models- help to understand the “what” of socialization • Role related information • Organizational Culture
Communication Process During Assimilation The Employment Interview • Three functions • Interviewer uses to recruit new employees • Recruit uses interview to learn more about the company • Serves as first Socialization tool
The Interview as a Recruiting and Screening Tool • Organization must “make assessments of interviewee’s background, knowledge, motivation, communication skills and personality.” (p. 153) • Most interviewers gather information in a structured way (start with close ended questions, end interview with open ended questions (p. 154) • There is a great deal of variability between interviews for different companies and industries. (p. 153)
The Interview as an Information-Gathering Tool (p. 154-155) • The interview provides a glimpse of a possible future employer • “Applicant satisfaction with and interview is a good predictor of acceptance of second interviews” (Ralston, 1993) • If probing questions are asked, the recruit perceives the interviewer to be an empathic listener (McComb & Jablin, 1984) • Applicants are more satisfied with open ended questions that allow them to share more about themselves (Jablin & Miller, 1990) • “Interviewees receiving second interview offers were likely to be those who confined their questions during the interview to job- related issues.” (Babbitt& Jablin, 1985)
The Interview as a Tool for Socialization • “The employment interview can serve to ease a newcomer’s adaptation to the organization should she or he be offered a job.” (p. 155) • RJP-Realistic job previews • “If new recruits are provided a realistic picture of their future job, they will be less likely to be disappointed if inflated expectations are not met.” (p. 155)
Role Development Process • Role-Development Process • Role-Taking Phase • Role-Making Phase • Role-Routinization Phase
Organizational Exit • Reasons it is important • Demographic • More people reaching retirement age • Economic • Global Marketplace is filled with mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies and downsizing • Social • Increasingly mobile society • More occupational identification than organizational identification
Organizational Exit Generalizations (p. 162) • Is a, “process, not an event”. • “Influences both those who leave and those left behind” • “Can have profound effects on the families of those who leave the organization” • “Communication plays a critical role in the disengagement process.”
Reference • Miller, Katherine. “Assimilation Processes”. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes (4th ed.) Thomson/ Wadsworth: United States. (2006) pp. 145-168.