Newcomer information seeking: the role of information seeking in newcomer socialization and learning in the workplace

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Introduction: Research on socialization and learning processes among organizational newcomers is offering valuable insight into the role of information seeking in the workplace, and to why, and how newcomers seek information when entering a new organization.
Analysis: The aim of the paper is to outline and discuss the significance of information seeking in newcomer socialization and learning, and analyse how different approaches influence our understanding of the role of information seeking in the workplace.
Results: It is argued, that a development in research on newcomer information seeking can be identified ranging from approaching socialization as adaption and individual information acquisition towards a broader approach investigating information seeking as an integrated part of learning in practice.
Conclusion: When applying a practice theoretical approach to knowledge and learning in organizations newcomers access to participate and negotiate meaning in practice becomes essential. Information seeking hereby plays a significant role in newcomers learning by establishing, developing, and maintaining a relationship to a given organizational practice. Through accessing textual, social and corporeal information sources newcomers learn about the organizational practice, and the knowledge needed in order to develop as a competent practitioner and become a full member of the organization.
Translated title of the contributionNyansattes informationssøgning: informationssøgningens betydning for nyansattes socialisering og læring
Original languageEnglish
JournalInformation Research
Volume22
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)1-21
Number of pages21
ISSN1368-1613
Publication statusPublished - 2017
EventInformation Seeking in Context : The Information Behaviour Conference - University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Duration: 20 Sep 201623 Sep 2016
http://isic2016.com/?lang=en

Conference

ConferenceInformation Seeking in Context
LocationUniversity of Zadar
CountryCroatia
CityZadar
Period20/09/201623/09/2016
Internet address

ID: 161989775