Date of Award
1-1-2012
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Philosophy (MPHIL)
Department
Management
First Advisor
Prof Dean Tjosvold
Second Advisor
Dr Alfred Wong
Abstract
Serial (providing newcomer role models) and investiture (providing newcomer positive social support) tactics have been demonstrated as the most important predictors for newcomer adjustment. This study empirically examines the dynamics of serial and investiture tactics on newcomer adjustment and retention. It posits that goal interdependence between new recruits and their teams critically affects new recruits adjustment outcomes. This study adopts Deutsch’s theory of goal interdependence to understand when newcomers develop cooperative goal interdependence with their teams. It argues that serial and investiture tactics promote cooperative goal interdependence and reduce competitive goal and independent goal relationships and thereby result in newcomer adjustment and retention.
A total of 102 interviews of specific incidents were conducted in Mainland China in 2011. Structural equation results support several hypotheses as well as the hypothesized model that serial and investiture tactics used by working teams are antecedents to goal interdependence between new recruits and their teams and that goal interdependence in turn influences adjustment outcomes, especially, newcomer affective attitudes as organizational commitment and job satisfaction, intention to quit, and co-worker relationship. It identifies that cooperative goal interdependence promotes positive attitudes and strong co-worker relationship and competitive goal interdependence and independent goal relationship result in low affective attitudes and high intention to quit. It demonstrates that serial and investiture tactics promote cooperative goal interdependence and undermine competitive goal and independent goal relationships. Findings suggest important practical implications. Organizations can help new recruits adjust and remain by strengthening cooperative goal interdependence between them and their teams. Providing role models and positive social support are important ways to induce cooperative goal interdependence. This study contributes to the socialization tactics literature as well as the theory of goal interdependence and to their integration.
Keywords
socialization tactics, newcomer adjustment and retention, goal
Copyright
The copyright of this thesis is owned by its author. Any reproduction, adaptation, distribution or dissemination of this thesis without express authorization is strictly prohibited.
Recommended Citation
Lu, C. (2012). Socialization tactics as antecedents for goal interdependence and newcomer adjustment and retention (Master's thesis, Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.14793/mgt_etd.22