Learning to speak up: a socialization perspective on newcomer voice behaviour

This dissertation delves into how new employees in organizations can effectively voice their ideas and concerns. Newcomers are a group of employees who can challenge the status quo with new ideas, as their unique personal backgrounds and experiences provide organizations with opportunities for knowledge creation and transfer. Therefore, it is essential to understand the factors that shape newcomer voice behaviour during the socialization process and how organizations can effectively manage and promote it. The first study reveals that managers are more inclined to embrace issues raised by newcomers who understand an organization’s goals, people, and politics. The second study introduces a dynamic perspective to understand how newcomer voice changes over time, showcasing that voice behavior and silence evolve autonomously over time. Research in the third study examines how organizations’ support for new employees influences their willingnes to share ideas and concerns. It found that when organizations encourage innovation, new employees are more likely to share new ideas, but also, that they may not speak up about problems they notice. In sum, this research provides valuable insights into how organizations can tailor onboarding processes and support systems to help new employees contribute effectively.