1. Assimilation Process
Chapter Seven

2. What is Assimilation?
 Jablin: Assimilation is “those ongoing behavioral and cognitive processes by which individuals join, become integrated into and exit organizations”

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. Newcomer Information Seeking Tactics (p. 156)
Overt Questions
Newcomer solicits information by asking direct questions of information targets
Indirect Questions
Newcomer solicits information by asking non-interrogative questions or by hinting
Third Parties
Newcomer solicits information by asking a secondary source (e.g. coworker) rather than primary source (e.g. supervisor)
Testing Limits
Newcomer solicits information by breaking or deviating from organizational rules and observing reactions
Disguising Conversations
Newcomer solicits information-seeking attempt as a natural part of the coversation
Observing
Newcomer solicits information by watching behavior in salient situations
Surveillance
Newcomer solicits information by making sense of the observed behavior

11. Role Development Process
Role-Taking Phase
Role-Making Phase
Role-Routinization Phase

13. Organizational Exit Reasons it is important Demographic Economic
 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

14. 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.”

15. Reference
Miller, Katherine. “Assimilation Processes”. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes (4th ed.) Thomson/ Wadsworth: United States. (2006) pp

16. Goodbye