Browsing by Subject "ryhmänormit"

The purpose of this study was to find out how new employees become part of the work community. The aim of the study was to identify the stages involved in the process and the various phenomena that have influenced the progress of the process. The aim was to look at the issue in the light of social capital and other social phenomena. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach and the research material was collected as thematic interviews. The study involved six new insurance employees from two different work teams who started at the same time. Each subject was interviewed three times within nine months of starting work. The aim of conducting several interviews was to obtain more accurate and real-time information on the progress of the process. Based on the study, the routes of new employees into the work community appeared unique and progressed at different rates. However, the same phenomena were seen to have affect-ed the progress of the processes. Activity of the employees was emphasized in teleworking and online communication, whereas the lack of spontaneous encounters and social situa-tions online were evident. Getting help from other employees had a strong effect on building trust. It was easier to become a member of the group if there was trust, helpfulness, and rec-iprocity in the group. The above issues were therefore considered to have a positive effect on membership of the work community. On the other hand, unclear group norms and difficul-ty in getting help seemed to slow down the process of becoming a member of the work community. Although the progress of the study participants into the work community pro-gressed at different pace depending on the team, all subjects eventually felt that they had become part of the work community. The strengthening of social relationships and under-standing group norms and operating models together produced a sense of group member-ship.