Newcomers Building Social Capital by Proactive Networking: A Signaling Perspective

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Boulamatsi, Artemis; Liu, Songqi; Zhou, Le; Yin, Jingfeng; Yao, Xiang; Guo, Rui
• 署名单位: University of North Texas System; University of North Texas Denton; University System of Georgia; Georgia State University; Texas A&M University System; Texas A&M University College Station; Mays Business School; University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Chicago; University of Illinois Chicago Hospital; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Peking University; China University of Geosciences
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/apl0001187
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 1555-1570
• 关键词: proactive networking; newcomer social networks; signaling behaviors; future orientation; employee reputation

摘要

Social networks can aid newcomers' learning and adjustment and facilitate their performance. However, knowledge about how newcomers build their social networks from the ground up is limited. Extending the socialization literature, we propose a model delineating newcomer proactive networking as the driver of advice ties with peer newcomers, which in turn influence newcomer reputation among higher status organizational insiders. Drawing on signaling theory, we propose that future-oriented newcomers are more likely to engage in proactive networking behaviors, a form of signaling that could help those newcomers build a larger number of peer advice ties. Such initial success may then transmit newcomers' signals to the managerial ranks, affording them a better reputation among managers. In addition, signaling theory suggests that the centrality of a newcomer's immediate supervisor in the managerial advice network can amplify the effect of the newcomer's own signaling actions (i.e., proactive networking behaviors) on their relationships with peers. We tested our hypotheses in two field survey studies. Study 1 found that newcomers higher in future orientation engaged in more proactive networking. Proactive networking helped newcomers form more peer advice ties, which were, in turn, positively related to their reputation among managers. Study 2 found that the supervisor's centrality in the managerial advice network moderated the relationship between newcomer proactive networking and peer advice ties. We discuss the implications of our findings for the newcomer adjustment and signaling theory literatures as well as for socialization practices.