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COMM 4600 – Senior Seminar: Organizational Socialization

Spring 2014 - University of Colorado Boulder

MWF 10-10:50am

Location: EDUC138

Dr. Jody Jahn

Office Hellems 89B

Office Hours: Monday 12-1pm, Friday 12-2pm, by appointment

Course Description: This course offers an intensive analysis of current theory and research in selected areas of organizational communication. Topics include organizational socialization, organizational assimilation, and organizational identification--all issues crucial to organizational membership. Discussions and assignments will revolve around theoretical traditions and real-world pressures found within organizations. Students are encouraged to bring their personal insights into the classroom, and use class concepts to evaluate their own organizational experiences. The culminating assignment for the class will involve studying members in an organization outside of class.

Course Objectives:

  1. To study and learn from theories related to organizational socialization/assimilation and member identity.
  2. To make you a more reflective organizational member and to better understand your relationship to the organization.
  3. To enable you to analyze organizational communication.
  4. To develop your ability to analyze communication problems and potential solutions.
  5. To apply theory to real world processes and challenges through in-class activities and discussion.

Course Readings:

All course readings are posted in PDF form on D2L. There is no required textbook.

Managing Communication in our Class:

D2L: I utilize the D2L class management system. Log in at Students should check the site on a regular basis for posted announcements, assignments, readings, and grades. I may opt to contact you via your official school email address—please make sure to check it regularly.

Class Discussions: Your learning will come from our discussions about the readings, your thoughts about the topics, critiques of studies, and insights you can bring from your experiences. Participation is graded, and you are expected to be in class and involved in activities. Students who make thoughtful and reading-informed contributions, and who miss no more than two classes will be considered for extra credit (up to 5 points). Students who miss more than three classes will have points deducted from their total (2 points per class).

Assignments

Quizzes (35 points)

  • There are nine short 5-point quizzes on main points from the present week’s readings; seven count toward your grade and you are able to drop your two lowest scores. There will be no make-ups on the short quizzes.

Exams (315 points):

  • Exam 1: 105 points
  • Exam 2: 105 points
  • Final exam: 105 points, non-cumulative

Research Practicum Assignments (40 points)

  • RP1 (20 points): Organizational socialization project rationale leading to research questions
  • RP2 (20 points): Methods section: data collection process, organization, participants, etc.

Final Project(120 points)

  • Final paper (100 points): The final report is a 8-12 page (double-spaced) report on the organizational socialization issue you investigated, data collected, how you analyzed it, and the key findings and discussion, in APA 6thstyle. Your research practicum assignments directly build toward your final paper.
  • Presentation of research (20 points): this is a 5-7 minute report by your group about your findings.
  • Group or Individual Option. You may work on this project individually or in a group of two or three students. The project requirements are the same—five interviews and 8-12 pages regardless of whether one, two or three students produced it. You are welcome to turn in a group produced interview protocol and final paper.

Participation: 20 points

Late work: Late work will not be accepted without a reduction in the grade. Generally, the assignment will be reduced by one grade per day late. You are welcome to submit assignments early if you anticipate missing a class. If you must miss class for an official school function or religious reasons, you must inform me at least two weeks prior to the absence in order to have the absence excused and to be able to complete missed assignments. You are responsible for obtaining lecture notes and announcements presented in the class session you missed. All assignments must be made up by Friday of Week 14. Be sure to write down the names and contact information of two of your classmates in case you want someone to submit your work when you are absent or have a question about class and can’t reach me.

Grading. Final grades will be assigned as follows:

A94-100%C+77-79%D-60-62%

A-90-93%C73-76%F59% and below

B+87-89%C-70-72%

B83-86%D+67-69%

B-80-82%D63-66%

Conducting Your Research

Data collection approval: You must check with me before collecting any data for your group research project so that I can approve your approach (e.g., sample and procedures).

Human Subjects: You must successfully complete the CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) “Students in Research” tutorial. Go to and create a username and password. Complete the CITI tutorial in the “Course Projects” learner group on human research. When you have successfully completed to tutorial, you will be issued a certificate that can be printed or downloaded as PDF.

Important information for all courses at University of Colorado at Boulder

Accommodation: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Disability Services is located in room N200 in the Center for Community 107 UCB, phone: 303-492-8671,

Classroom Behavior Policy: Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty member have the professional responsibility to treat all students with understanding, dignity, and respect; to guide classroom discussion; and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which they and their students express opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender variance, and nationalities.See policies at at

Honor Code: All UCB students are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior.All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at

Observance of Religious Holidays and Absences from Classes or Examinations: Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled examinations, assignments, or required attendance. In this class, I will make every effort to accommodate all students who have such conflicts with scheduled examinations, assignments, or attending class, provided students notify me well in advance of the scheduled conflict. If an examination is scheduled or an assignment is due on a religious holiday, I will provide the opportunity for the examination or assignment to be taken/due on another day. Classes missed to observe a religious holiday will not be counted as an absence.

Sexual Harassment: The UCB Policy on Sexual Harassment applies to all students, staff, and faculty.Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention.It can involve intimidation, threats, coercion, or promises to create an environment that is hostile or offensive. Harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite gender and between any combination of members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Harassment can occur anywhere on campus, including the classroom, the workplace, or a residence hall.Any student, staff, or faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 Information about the ODH and the campus resources available to assist individuals who believe they have been sexually harassed can be obtained at:

COURSE SCHEDULE

Introduction to Organizational Socialization

Week 1 – Jan. 13-17

M: Course introduction

W: Foundational research

  • Reading: Van Maanen, 1973 – The Making of Policemen

F: Stages of socialization & framing theories

  • Reading: Kramer, 2010 – Ch. 1

Studies on Organizational Socialization

Week 2 – Jan. 20-24

M: No class – Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

W: Vocational anticipatory socialization

  • Reading: Myers, et al., 2011 – Socialization toward/away from STEM careers

F: Socialization into organizational culture

  • Reading: Van Maanen, 1991 – The Smile Factory
  • Quiz #1

Week 3 – Jan 27-31

M: Transitioning into a new role

  • Reading: Duchscher, 2007 – Transition shock in nursing

W: Turning points and identification

  • Reading: Bullis & Bach, 1986

F: Socialization tactics and managing uncertainty

  • Reading: Kramer, 2010 – Ch. 4
  • Quiz #2

Week 4 – Feb. 3-7

M: Memorable messages

  • Reading: Stohl, 1986
  • Discuss Research Practicum #1 assignment

W: Organizational exit phase of socialization

  • Reading: Davis & Myers, 2012 – Planned exit from a sorority

F: Exam #1

Our Relationship With Work as Part of Life

Week 5 – Feb. 10-14

M: Having a “calling”

  • Reading: Bunderson & Thompson, 2009 – Zookeepers and “calling”

W: Identifying and navigating role identities

  • Reading: Ashforth, 2001 – Ch. 2

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • No reading.
  • Quiz #3

Identification: Our Connection to Organizations and Occupations

Week 6 – Feb. 17-21

M: Identification with an organization

  • Reading: MaelAshforth, 1992 – identification with one’s alma mater

W: Volunteer identification

  • Reading: Steimel, 2013 – Volunteer identification

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • No reading.
  • Quiz #4
  • DUE: Research Practicum #1

Navigating Normative Control

Week 7 – Feb. 24-28

M: Concertive control

  • Reading: Barker, 1993 – Tightening the iron cage

W: Spiritual labor

  • Reading: McGuire, 2009 – Commodification of organization members’ spirituality

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • No reading.
  • Quiz #5
  • Discuss Research Practicum #2

Normalizing the Extraordinary

Week 8 – Mar. 3-7

M: Doing dirty work

  • Reading: AshforthKreiner, 1999 – How can you do it?

W: Socialization of emotion

  • Reading: Scott & Myers, 2005 – Firefighter emotion management

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • No reading.
  • Quiz #6

Week 9 – Mar. 10-14

M: Socialization of risk

  • Reading: Desmond, 2010 – Making firefighters deployable

W: Gender, risk and identity

  • Reading: Lucas & Steimel, 2009 – Women miners

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • No reading.
  • Quiz #7
  • DUE: Research Practicum #2

Week 10 – Mar. 17-21

M: Exam #2

W: Dark side of socialization

  • Reading: Zirbriggen, 2008 – Socialization of torture

F: Watch and discuss scene from “Zero Dark 30” in class

  • Reading (short): Ashforth, 2001 – Ch.6 pp. 179-182 – The making of a torturer

Week 11 – Mar. 24-28 – SPRINGBREAK!

Networks: Access Into, Around and Up the Organization

Week 12 – Mar. 31 – Apr. 4

M: Social networks and access

  • Reading: Granovetter, 1983 – Strength of weak ties

W: Restricted access

  • Reading: Ibarra, 1993 – Women and minority networks

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • No reading.
  • Quiz #8

Who We are as Professionals

Week 13 – Apr. 7-11

M: Giving one’s “authentic best self” at work

  • Reading: Cable, Gino, & Staats, 2013 – Breaking them in

W: Work friendships and socialization

  • Reading: Zorn & Gregory, 2005 – Learning the ropes together

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • No reading.
  • Quiz #9

Week 14 – Apr. 14-18

M: Meaning of professionalism

  • Reading: Cheney & Ashcraft, 2007 – Considering “the professional”

W: Humor as part of socialization

  • Reading: Mak, Liu, & Deneen, 2012 – Humor in coping and regulating behavior

F: Extended discussion and in-class activity

  • DUE: Final paper
  • No reading.

Week 15 – Apr. 21-25

M: “Faking it til you make it” video and discussion

W: Socialization video (TBA) and discussion

F: Presentations

Week 16 – Apr. 28 – May 2

M: Presentations

W: Presentation

F: Presentations & final exam review

References

Ashforth, B.E. (2001). Role transitions in organizational life: An identity-based perspective. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. (Chapter 2)

Ashforth, B.E., & Kreiner, G.E. (1999). 'How can you do it?': Dirty work and the challenge of constructing a positive identity. Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 413-434.

Barker, J. (1993).Tightening the iron cage: Concertive control in self-managing teams.Administrative Science Quarterly, 38(3), 408-437.

Bullis, C., & Bach, B. (1989). Socialization turning points: An examination of change in organizational identification. Western Journal of Speech Communication, 53(3), 273-293.

Bunderson, J.S., & Thompson, J.A. (2009). The call of the wild: Zookeepers, callings, and the double-edged sword of deeply meaningful work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 54, 32-57.

Cable, D.M., Gino, F., & Staats, B.R. (2013). Breaking them in or eliciting their best? Reframing socialization around newcomers' authentic self-expression.Administrative Science Quarterly, 58(1), 1-36.

Cheney, G., & Ashcraft, K. L. (2007).Considering “the professional” in communication studies: Implications for theory and research within and beyond the boundaries of organizational communication.Communication Theory, 17, 146-175. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2885.2007.00290.x

Davis, C. W., & Myers, K. K. (2012). Communication and member disengagement in planned organizational exit. Western Journal of Communication, 76(2), 194-216. doi: 10.1080/10570314.2011.651250

Desmond, M. (2010).Making firefighters deployable.Qualitative Sociology, 34(1), 59-77.

Duchscher, J. E. B. (2009). Transition shock: The initial stage of role adaptation for newly graduated Registered Nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65 (5), 1103-1113. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04898.x

Granovetter, M. (1983). The strength of weak ties: A network theory revisited. Sociological Theory, 1, 201-233.

Ibarra, H. (1993). Personal networks of women and minorities in management: A conceptual framework. The Academy of Management Review, 18(1), 56-87.

Kramer, M.W. (2010). Organizational socialization: Joining and leaving organizations. Cambridge, UK: Polity. (Chapters 1 and 4)

Lucas, K., & Steimel, S. J. (2009). Creating and responding to the gen(d)eralized other: Women miners’ community-constructed identities. Women’s Studies in Communication, 32(3), 320-347.

Mael, F., & Ashforth, B.E. (1992).Alumni and their alma-mater - a partial test of the reformulated model of organizational identification.Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13(2), 103-123. doi: 10.1002/Job.4030130202

Mak, B. C. N., Liu, Y., & Deneen, C. C. (2012). Humor in the workplace: A regulating and coping mechanism in socialization. Discourse & Communication, 6(2), 163-179. doi: 10.1177/1750481312437445

McGuire, T. (2010). From emotions to spirituality: “Spiritual labor” as the commodification, codification, and regulation of organization members’ spirituality. Management Communication Quarterly, 24 (1), 74-103. doi: 10/1177/0893318909351432

Myers, K. K., Jahn, J. L. S., Gailliard, B. M., & Stoltzfus, K. (2011). Vocational anticipatory socialization (VAS): A communicative model of adolescents’ interests in STEM. Management Communication Quarterly, 25(1), 87-120. doi: 10.1177/0893318910377068

Scott, C., & Myers, K.K. (2005). The socialization of emotion: Learning emotion management at the fire station. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 33(1), 67-92.

Steimel, S. (2013).Connecting with volunteers: Memorable messages and volunteer identification.Communication Research Reports, 30(1), 12-21. doi: 10.1080/08824096.2012.746220

Stohl, C. (1986). The role of memorable messages in the process of organizational socialization.Communication Quarterly, 34(3), 231-249.

Van Maanen, J. (1973). Observations on the making of policemen.Human Organization, 32, 407-418.

Van Maanen J. (1991). The smile factory: Work at Disneyland. In P. J. Frost (Ed.), Reframing organizational culture (pp. 58-76). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Zorn, T.E., & Gregory, K.W. (2005).Learning the ropes together: Assimilation and friendship development among first-year male medical students.Health Communication, 17(3), 211-231.

Zurbriggen, E.L. (2008). Sexualized torture and abuse at Abu Ghraib prison: Feminist psychological analyses. Feminism & Psychology, 18(3), 301-320.