Chapter 22
The First Day at Work
Julie A. Davis
Case Overview
This case follows Paige Martin, a new hire at Dimension Telecommunications, on her first morning at her first post-college job. Paige, along with fellow new hires John Reuter and Kelly Smith, attend the company’s orientation program, The Dimension Drama, facilitated by 11-year Dimension veteran, Peter Geller. The orientation program consists of a video introduction from Dimension’s CEO, Jim Duncan, group discussion led by the facilitator, and smaller “spin and buzz” sessions where Paige, John, and Kelly discussed Dimension’s mission and goals. After five years of contract work with Dimension, John is cynical about the company and work in general. Kelly, who chose to leave another area job for a better offer at Dimension is more optimistic about the new company, and Paige is concerned about her own abilities and is not sure how she feels about Dimension. The case ends as a very confused Paige returns to the orientation session after getting very different advice from John and Kelly.
Learning Objective
This case illustrates the confusion that new hires commonly experience as they enter new positions and/or new organizations and receive often ambiguous messages about their new environment.
Keywords and Definitions
Newcomer information seeking tactic—a strategy used by a new hire or other person new to an organization who attempts to learn what is expected and accepted of him or her.
Organizational narrative—a story told by organizational members about the organization, its members, history, or policies.
Organizational newcomer—a new hire or other person new to a particular organizational environment.
Organizational socialization—the process organizational members experience before, during, and after entering new organizations or new roles at their current organizations.
Discussion Questions
1. At what stage of socialization are the three main characters—Paige, Kelly, and John?
2. What information does Paige use when she attempts to make an impression at Dimension?
3. What stories are told about Dimension during the training session?
4. What do these stories tell new hires about Dimension?
5. How does John’s additional information about Dave Short change the meaning of the narrative?
6. What do the characters’ language choices say about power and authority at Dimension?
7. Was the Dimension Drama effective? Why or why not?
8. Is including newly hired contractors in sessions with other new hires a good idea? Why or why not?
9. Who should Paige believe about Dimension?
10. What should Paige do next?
References and Resources
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Bullis, C. (1993). Organizational socialization research: Enabling, constraining, and shifting perspectives. Communication Monographs 60, 10–17.
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Riordan, C. M., Self, R. M., Vandenberg, R. J., & Weatherly, E. W. (2001). The effects of pre-entry experiences and socialization tactics on newcomer attitudes and turnover. Journal of Managerial Issues 13, 159–176.
Robbins, R. L. (2002). Orientation: necessity or nightmare? Supervision 63, 8–9.
Web Resources
Orienting new employees. Carter McNamara:
http://www.mapnp.org/library/trng_dev/orientng/orientng.htm
Orientation vs. Integration. Barbara O’Toole:
http://humanresources.about.com/library/weekly/-uc022601a.htm>
Now that you’ve hired them, don’t forget them. The Management Center:
http://www.tmcenter.org/library/articles/orienting.html