Assimilating newcomers into an organization: A cultural perspective

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Abstract
Most businesses routinely face the difficult situation of assimilating new employees into the organization. While this process may be smooth and productive, it is often a source of frustration for employee and organization alike. This article conceptualizes organizational assimilation in terms of the culture metaphor and proposes that this paradigm can lead to many suggestions for improving the transition of newcomers from outsider to insider. First, a paradigm employing the cultural metaphor is presented (including a model of the assimilation process). Then, research is reviewed in light of the cultural paradigm and suggestions for application are provided. Suggestions are intended to help newcomers feel greater satisfaction and work more productively.