This paper integrates the concepts of person—environment (PE) fit and social capital and examines the social dynamics of organizational newcomers’ development of fit with their new environment in the light of national cultural variations. Specifically, we present a conceptual framework that illustrates how newcomers fit in with their work environment in terms of person—job (PJ) and person—organization (PO) fit through their building and exercising of social capital. We suggest that newcomers’ initial fit with their direct supervisor (i.e. PS fit) and their immediate work group fit (i.e. PG fit) will help them to develop structural and relational social capital in the organization, which in turn facilitate the development of greater PJ and PO fit. Acknowledging that social processes are culture-bound, we also examine the moderating effects of individualism/collectivism and power distance on the process of developing PE fit, and we provide insights for both scholars and managers in applying the model.
Comment les nouveaux arrivants s’intègrent-ils ? La dynamique entre le fit personne/environnement et le capital social dans différentes cultures
Yih-teen Lee, B. Sebastian Reiche et Dongmei Song
Cet article intègre les concepts de P/E fit (comptabilité individu/environnement) et de capital social et examine la dynamique sociale du développement de l’adéquation des nouveaux arrivants organisationnels à leur nouvel environnement à la lumière des variations culturelles nationales. Plus spécifiquement, nous présentons un cadre conceptuel qui illustre comment les nouveaux arrivants s’adaptent à leur environnement de travail en fonction du fit individu-travail (PT fit) et du fit individu-organisation (PO fit) grâce à la construction et à l’exercice de leur capital social. Nous suggérons que l’adéquation initiale des nouveaux arrivants à leur superviseur (PS fit) et à leur groupe de travail immédiat (PG fit) les aide à développer un capital social structurel et relationnel au sein de l’organisation, ce qui à son tour va faciliter le développement d’une meilleure congruence PJ et PO. Reconnaissant que les processus structurels sont ancrés dans la culture, nous examinons aussi les effets modérateurs de l’individualisme/collectivisme et la distance hiérarchique sur le processus de développement du PE fit et donnons enfin aux chercheurs et aux managers des idées d’application de notre modèle.
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