Concept Application Project

Concept Application Project

200 Points

Due end of Week 5—see Topical Calendar for date.

Description:

The Concept Application Project is a learning activity designed to focus on experiences during phases most commonly associated with the term ”organizational socialization,” that of joining and being a newcomer in an organization or company.

Objectives:

The project is an opportunity to explore, apply and critically evaluate theoretical frameworks described in Ch.1 for examining organizational socialization: Uncertainty management, Sense-making, Social exchange theory and Social Identity. It gives you a chance to try out using these theories particulary in light of the two early phases of socialization that are discussed in the first half of the course: Anticipatory Socialization (occupational/role in Ch. 2 and organizational in Ch. 3) and Organizational Encounter/Entry (Ch. 4).

Content:

Since this is a concept application assignment, concepts (i.e., defined terms) from the readings are a central aspect, you should:

· Utilize and cite with page numbers multiple quotes/definition from chapters 2 – 4 (3 – 4 per page or more); cite using APA style.

· Apply and critique your choice of one of the four theoretical models described in Chapter 1:

o Uncertainty management

o Sense-making

o Social-exchange

o Social identity

Outside Sources

In addition to the Kramer text, incorporate quoted information to support your arguments from three (3) different outside academic sources: academic journal articles available in full text through Gumberg Library databases and/or texts or assigned academic articles from other Duquesne course/s (for the latter, include course title in Works Cited).

For all quotes, cite author(s) and page numbers in the body of the paper in APA style.

Length:

Written elements should include about 750 -1000 words of personally written text (3 – 4 pages double spaced). Other elements included in your project that would not be reflected in word counts might be pieces written by others such as website screen shots, samples of existing company literature, etc. On the other hand, if your project output involves such items as personally created PowerPoint slides or a design for an orientation manual cover, etc., include those in the word count.

Note: the nature of this project assigment encourages creativity and thinking outside the box, so the above are simply rough guiding principles regarding length or amount of content. Do not stress over this! Feel free to discuss with me at any time.

Options:

You have a good deal of creative leeway to propose a project of your choosing for accomplishing the the learning objectives. The project is meant to be more engaging and fun! However, a few ideas are listed below to stimulate your thinking:

• Starting your own company

You are a team founding a small company of your choice and you have the opportunity to create your methods of organizational anticipatory socialization (e.g., recruitment, selection, pre-entry) and encounter. Examples of aspects you might consider: How might you try to recruit for maximal diversity and during encounter create procedure to avoid creation of ”outsiders within”? If women are creating this startup versus a group of men, are there any considerations you might include? What might the orientation manual for your hypothetical startup include?

• Comparative company case analyses

Ever wondered how companies carry out ‘‘anticipatory socialization“ as reflected in their recruitment and hiring practices? How they socialize newcomers? For example, how do ordinary people become ‘‘Googlers“? http://www.google.com/about/company/

Choose two companies or organizations to research and compare and contrast. You may want to include screen shots of particular pages of their websites to illustrate some of your points.

• Interview with a newcomer

Interview someone you know who is a relative newcomer to an organization. Develop questions that each is designed to explore a concept of interest to you from the readings and summarize the person’s answers, inluding some illuminating quotes. Discuss each of the answers in relation to the concepts. What surprised you?

Some possible variations on the theme: Interview a newcomer from a non-dominant group (e.g., woman in mostly male company, gay person among predominantly straight colleagues, ethnic minority); interview and compare two newcomers in the same company, etc.

• Media analysis

What do some of your favorite or not-so-favorite scripted TV and/or reality shows reflect about organizational socialization, especially anticipatory role socialization? Using examples from shows, consider the current prevalence of occupational stereotypes based on, for example, gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation as compared to shows from previous decades. How about over-representation of certain occupations and under-representation of others? Misinterpretation of the actual work? Positive or negative images of varoius occupations?

• Plot a TV sitcom

Sketch out a plot for the first few episodes of a scripted TV show about newcomers to a company. For example, in a sitcom, include characters and story lines that reflect varying experiences of new employees representing different dominant and non-dominant groups: e.g., a transgender person; a male in a traditionally female occupation. Dramatize some boundary issues of inclusion or exclusion (p. 91). Variations: create a concept for a reality show.

• Other ideas for a project? By all means propose one or more ideas to me at least two weeks in advance of the due date so we can have a constructive conversation. I love new ideas!

Rubric

Criteria
Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Criterion A

Application and critical thinking about theories

Applies theory in depth and critically assesses

Some application and critical assessment of theory

Superficial or incorrect application and critical assessment of theory

Little application or critical assessment of theory
36 – 40
32 – 35
28 – 31
27 or fewer
Criterion B

Demonstration of knowledge with citations from assigned readings

Very clear that readings and course concepts are understood, incorporated and cited throughout the paper ( 3 – 4 per page or more)

Readings and course materials are understood and incorporated into paper; some citations

Questionable relationship to readings and course materials; few citations

Not evident that readings and course materials are understood or incorporated into paper; few or no citations
36 – 40
32 – 35
28 – 31
27 or fewer
Criterion C

Inclusion of outside sources

Three or more very relevant academic references incorporated effectively

Fewer than 3 academic sources or lacking in relevance

One academic source with relevance

No academic sources
36 – 40
32 – 35
28 – 31
27 or fewer
Criterion D

Utilization of concepts

Effectively uses multiple concepts in insightful analysis

Uses some concepts in moderate degree of analysis

Uses few or incorrect concepts and superficial analysis

Uses few or incorrect concepts and provides minimal analysis
36 – 40
32 – 35
28 – 31
27 or fewer
Criterion E

Writing style and format of paper; mechanics of writing; length of paper∙

Writing style is very polished & professional; well-formatted; No grammar; spelling, punctuation errors

Writing style is professional; paragraphs somewhat organized; very few grammar, spelling, punctuation errors

Writing style is basic; paragraphs beginning level of organization; significant or repetitive grammar, spelling, punctuation errors

Writing style un-developed; paragraphs minimally organized; serious or numerous grammar; spelling, punctuation errors
36 – 40
32 – 35
28 – 31
27 or fewer

Project does not have any attached files

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