The role of proactivity during organizational entry: Proactive socialization tactics, citizenship and counterproductive work behaviors

Newcomers engage in proactive behaviors during organizational entry to increase their adjustment to the organization and to successfully complete their socialization. The present study investigated the links between proactive socialization tactics (i.e., positive framing, sense making and relationship building) and organizational outcomes. Specifically, organizational citizenship behaviors (e.g., assisting coworkers) and counterproductive work behaviors (e.g., verbal abuse) were investigated. The sample included 216 employees from various industries and organizations with an average organizational tenure of 9 months. The results indicated that all proactive socialization behaviors were associated with high levels of citizenship behaviors (i.e., OCB). Only positive framing was associated with low levels of counterproductive work behaviors (e.g., CWB). Furthermore, newcomer adjustment variables (i.e., role clarity, self-efficacy and social integration) were positively related to OCB and negatively related to CWB. The results also provided some support for the newcomer adjustment variables as mediators between proactive socialization behaviors and OCB/CWB. The present study also investigated the role of procedural justice in this model that links proactive socialization behaviors to OCB/CWB through newcomer adjustment variables. Results indicated procedural justice moderated the relationship between relationship building and newcomer adjustment including role clarity, self-efficacy and social integration.