Final answer:
Organizational socialization is the process of teaching new employees to become proficient organizational members through learning about work culture and expectations. It primarily comprises three phases: anticipatory socialization, encounter phase, and change and acquisition phase, allowing individuals to adapt and acquire necessary skills and behaviors for successful integration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organizational socialization is the process by which individuals are taught to become proficient members of an organization. It involves learning the material and nonmaterial aspects of the workplace culture, including the operation of equipment and understanding workplace norms and values. Companies are increasingly recognized as responsible for facilitating this socialization through structured onboarding programs.
The three phases of organizational socialization are:
- Anticipatory Socialization: This phase happens before an individual joins an organization and includes learning about work and occupations, developing occupational identities, and forming job expectations.
- Encounter Phase: This occurs when a new employee begins the job and confronts the reality of their new work environment. They learn about their specific role, the skills required, and the organization's culture.
- Change and Acquisition Phase: In this final phase, new employees adjust to their roles and the values of the organization. They acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to become accepted members of the organization.
Socialization is not a one-time event but a lifelong process that reoccurs as we enter new phases of life. Resocialization is a related concept where previously learned behaviors are replaced with new ones due to a shift in the social environment, such as transitioning to a different career or relocating to a new country.