Organizational Communication: Socialization Learning Activity

Instructions:

Please write in detail!

In the following case study, a recent graduate is experiencing the socialization process as he enters a new organization. Read Chapter 7, read through the case, then reply thoughtfully and substantively to the provided prompts. Please integrate course material with citations to support your analysis. Upload the worksheet to D2L when complete.

Discussion Questions

1.What stages of socialization are represented by Jason's letters? What socialization tactics? What kinds of information as he had to learn about Systems-Ware? Have the different socialization tactics used at Systems-Ware worked well for Jason?

2. How have different people on the job (Lisa, Janet, Howard) helped Jason learn about. Systems-Ware? Has Jason sought information effectively about his job? What information-seeking strategies would you advise that he use?

3. According to the role development model discussed in this chapter, what is going on with Jason and his boss? Is there anything Jason can do to salvage this relationship?

CASE STUDY

LETTERS TO DELTA CHI

Jason Hollander is a recent graduate of Central State University, where he was very active in intramural sports and fraternity life. After graduating, he took a job as a sales representative with Systems-Ware, a large computer software firm. The job required him to move from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, and, not surprisingly, he tried hard to stay in touch with his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers back at Central State. Here are a few of the letters he sent to his best friend, Jerry.

Letter 1

Dear Jerry,

Well, I finally got moved into my new apartment and am starting to get settled in a bit. The trip across the country was really grueling--I'm sure glad we had the time to take that trip down to Cancun before I had to move! I haven't really met anyone here yet, but there seem to be a lot of people my age in the apartment complex, so I'm sure there'll be someone to work out with and party with.

Today was my first day on the job. Pretty boring, all in all. There are about 20 of us being trained, and we all spent today in orientation, just learning about the company, filling out forms for benefits and payroll, and stuff like that. It's incredible how much junk they've given us to read already. I've gotta learn about all the forms to use, procedures for paperwork, all about every program, you name it. We haven't talked a bit about customers or selling, though!

Oh well, better get some sleep. I've gotta get up at 6:00 tomorrow morning so I can be in by 7:30. Those days of taking only afternoon classes and sleeping in are long gone! Say hi to all the guys for me,

Jason

Letter 2

Dear Jerry,

I've been through two weeks at Systems-Ware now, and I'm worrying that I might have made a bad choice (not that companies were knocking down my door with job offers!). I still don't have a real good feel for what this job is going to be like. The 20 of us new salespeople have been in training sessions all day, everyday. It's good in a way--I'm really getting to know the products incredibly well, plus the systems that are used here, the software we need on the job, plus the history and goals of the company. Not surprisingly, I'm also really getting to know the other people I'm training with! There's one guy, Jack, who's gonna be a good buddy, and a woman named Lisa, who's really cool. Lisa knows a lot of people who already work here, so she's always got the scoop on what's going on, who the powerful people are, how things really get done. We're all getting antsy to actually get on the job, though. How do I learn about selling when I'm sitting in a classroom? Luckily, we're out of the class part of the training program after this week, and next week I get to ride along with a sales rep. It'll be great to see what this job is really going to be like!

Talk to you soon,

Jason

P.S. This week I also had several meetings with my regional sales manager Howard. So far, he

seems like a real jerk. He's told me that Ill have very limited authority until I "prove myself."

What does this guy think I went to college for-to be babysat once I get out on the job?

Letter 3

Dear Jerry,

I can't believe how much has happened since the last time I wrote to you. For the last few weeks, I've been teamed up with Janet, a sales rep in the eastern part of the state. She's been great to learn from. She's worked for Systems-Ware for about five years and has a large, established client list. I'm really getting a feel for what's involved in servicing existing accounts, and she also works a lot at developing new ones. If only I'd known her before I had the two weeks of formal training--she could have told me what to pay attention to and what to ignore!

So, it looks like I may really like this job. Two things are still bothering me, though. First, I've now really started to realize what a lonely and disconnected job this can be. Just when I was getting to know Lisa and Jack, we all went out on the road and only see each other occasionally back at the office. Second, I can tell already that Howard (my boss) and I are not going to get along. I feel like I'm doing my job okay, but apparently he expects even more of me (I don't have a clue of what), and I'm not living up to those expectations. Maybe it's just a personality clash, but we've clearly gotten off to a bad start. I just hope this doesn't haunt me later on this job. I know I can do a good job (and Janet seems to think I'm doing great), but I don't know if I'm going to be able to make Howard think so. He seems pretty closed-minded about me already. Oh well, nothing I can do about it, so I may as well hit the hay.

Later,

Jason