Organizational assimilation is a process in which new members of an organization are integrated into the organizational culture. This concept, proposed by Frederic M. Jablin, consists of two dynamic processes that involve the organizational attempts to socialize the new members, as well as the current organization members. Organizational Socialization or Onboarding are both parts of the assimilation process. There are three phases in the assimilation process: Anticipatory Socialization, Organizational Encounter, and Metamorphosis.
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Anticipatory socialization
Anticipatory socialization is the first of the three phases in the assimilation process. In this stage newcomers form expectations of the organization and what it would be like to become a member of that particular organization. During this stage most newcomers develop a set of expectations and beliefs about how people communicate formally and informally in a particular organization.
There are two forms of anticipatory socialization that are interrelated.
1. Vocational anticipatory socialization: learning about the world of work and about vocations. The general information you have collected intentionally and unintentionally about the occupation/organization as you mature from childhood to a young adult. This can be done through various sources such as family, friends, media, education and part-time employment. Each of these sources represent a microsystem in maturing a person's career development. These systems are interconnected with one another and are also part of a larger system. For example: the information you gather from your childhood and growing up about what it would be like to be a teacher and work in a school.
2. Organizational anticipatory socialization: Information seeking prior to joining an organization. The information you intentionally and unintentionally gather when you are searching for a job. In the process of seeking jobs, newcomers will develop expectations about the organization they have applied for employment. This information comes from organizational literature such as job postings, annual reports, company brochures, and websites as well as interpersonal interactions such as job interviews, company visits and interpersonal interactions with current employees, organizational interviews, teachers, other applicants and through indirect social networking ties. This process begins to socialize job seekers even before they become part of the organization.
Organizational encounter
This stage of organizational assimilation involves the organizational member entering and becoming acquainted with the new organization, and occurs when "the newcomer confronts the reality of his or her organizational role." The new member, while already formally admitted within the organization, has not become socially accepted as a trustworthy or dependable member in the eyes of their coworkers. Organizational encounter mainly consists of the newly admitted employee seeking and receiving information in order to become more familiar with the processes regarding the organization. Generally, there are five primary tactics practiced by new members experiencing the encountering process in order to obtain information that will help in the assimilation process, and are listed below in order of frequency of use.
Information-seeking tactics
The context, level of uncertainty, type of information being sought, and source of information, all play a major role in which information seeking tactic is to be used by the new organizational member. It is important for employees within this stage to be aware of these tactics in order to effectively assimilate within an organization.
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is the final stage of the assimilation process. “This transition is best understood as the psychological adjustment that occurs when uncertainty has been managed and individuals move from being preoccupied with their transition to maintaining their new situations (Schlossberg, 1981).” In the beginning of the metamorphosis stage the employee begins to alter his or her behavior so that they are in line with the values of the organization. Through this, the employee transitions from new member to an insider, occurring when the new member is asked for their opinions, included in making decisions and given responsibilities. The employee can negotiate some aspects of their role at the organization, but for the most part they have to adapt to the standards already in place. The employee comes to know and appreciate the values and skills expected of them. This appreciation of the values, the integration of the employee in the organization, as well as the acceptance by higher up members enhances positive feelings towards the organization.
Criticisms of the assimilation theory
The use of the word assimilation has been criticized for not explaining the process it denotes. The word assimilation in everyday language means "denote absorption into the whole," which does not represent the dual agency notion. This process has also been criticized for ignoring individual experiences. Bullis and Stout (2000) claimed that these stages are the common experience in American society and those who do not fit into this process are irrelevant.
Depict assimilation occurring in three discreet linear stages, which may not be the case.