Chapter 5: E-socialization: The Problems and the Promise of Socializing Newcomers in the Digital Age

Socialization is the process during which newcomers develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to fit into an organization and adjust to their jobs and roles. This chapter introduces e-socialization - the process of facilitating newcomer adjustment through the use of information and communication technologies. We specify some of the main challenges and opportunities presented by e-socialization and structure our discussion around the organization-initiated socialization practices that are most widely discussed in the socialization literature as well as newcomer-initiated behaviors: e-orientation, e-training, e-socialization agents, e-socialization tactics, and e-proactive behaviors. We conclude that there are a number of important ways in which e-socialization differs from traditional socialization that can have both positive and negative consequences for the human capital, social capital, adjustment, and socialization of newcomers and that the effect of e-socialization practices on these outcomes will be moderated by the degree of virtuality. Based on these conclusions we offer a number of recommendations for future research and practice on e-socialization.