Organizational socialization practices of small firms
While the integration of newcomers is a key issue for small businesses, socialization practices they implement remain poorly understood. This research examines the diversity of organizational socialization practices of small French companies in mobilizing the framework of organizational configurations theory, and more precisely the SMEs’ configurations theory (Bentabet, Michun et Trouvé, 1999). A multiple case study identifies socialization practices unique in each of these configurations. These practices appear consistent with each other and with the system of variables characteristic of a given SME’s configuration. Thus, the socialization practices of « entrepreneurial » SMEs reflect a desire to enjoy the presence of a newcomer to innovate. Those of « independent traditional » SMEs are guided by an ideology of tradition and take the form of normative inculcations. Socialization practices of « managerial » SMEs refer a high level of formalization, of organization and rationalization of the integration of new recruits.