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Socialization Tactics of New Retail Employees: A Pathway to Organizational Commitment

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  • Tang, Chuanyi
  • Liu, Yongmei
  • Oh, Hyunjoo
  • Weitz, Barton

Abstract

To address the prevailing issue of high turnover and low employee commitment in the retail industry, this study explores the role of newcomers’ individual differences and proactive socialization tactics in developing employee organizational commitment and reducing employee turnover. Based on data collected from 239 employees in a major U.S. retail store chain, this study found that individual differences, such as goal orientation and proactivity, are significantly related to employees’ choices of different socialization tactics, including inquiry, observation, and networking. The three tactics are associated with organizational commitment and furthermore employees’ actual turnover mainly through role clarity and attitudes toward a retail career. Among the three proactive socialization tactics, observation plays the most important role in the socialization process.

Suggested Citation

  • Tang, Chuanyi & Liu, Yongmei & Oh, Hyunjoo & Weitz, Barton, 2014. "Socialization Tactics of New Retail Employees: A Pathway to Organizational Commitment," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 62-73.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jouret:v:90:y:2014:i:1:p:62-73
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretai.2013.11.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Northcraft, Gregory B. & Ashford, Susan J., 1990. "The preservation of self in everyday life: The effects of performance expectations and feedback context on feedback inquiry," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 42-64, October.
    2. Kozlowski, Steve W. J. & Gully, Stanley M. & Brown, Kenneth G. & Salas, Eduardo & Smith, Eleanor M. & Nason, Earl R., 2001. "Effects of Training Goals and Goal Orientation Traits on Multidimensional Training Outcomes and Performance Adaptability," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 85(1), pages 1-31, May.
    3. Arnold, Todd & Flaherty, Karen E. & Voss, Kevin E. & Mowen, John C., 2009. "Role Stressors and Retail Performance: The Role of Perceived Competitive Climate," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 85(2), pages 194-205.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rosengren, Sara & Bondesson, Niklas, 2017. "How organizational identification among retail employees is affected by advertising," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 204-209.
    2. Doreen Akunda & Zhixia Chen & Simon Ndwiga Gikiri, 2018. "Role of HRM in Talent Retention With Evidence," Journal of Management and Strategy, Journal of Management and Strategy, Sciedu Press, vol. 9(2), pages 8-19, May.
    3. Yonezawa, Koichi & Gómez, Miguel I. & McLaughlin, Edward W., 2022. "Impacts of Minimum Wage Increases in the US Retail Sector: Full-Time versus Part-Time Employment," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 47(2), May.

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