Organizational Socialization Context: Evidence from the Microfinance Sector in the Developing Country

Abstract

Although extant literature mainly emphasizes socialization models like early life socialization, socialization stage models, socialization tactics, newcomer learning and individual differences, little attention has been paid to the socialization in the organizational context. The main purpose of the research is to examine how context influences the organizational socialization process. The study has carried out multilevel organization analysis employing a single case study in the microfinance sector of Bangladesh. The study finds that contextual factors such as structure, goals, job role and environment facilitate and also constrain the socialization process. Institutional, formal, group and informal socialization tactics are commonly practiced in the multiple levels of the microfinance institution. Socialization stages such as learning and initiation, encountering and adjustment are commonly practiced and they are associated with uncertainty and environmental constraints. Overall, the study argues that context is critical in understanding and explaining socialization process.