Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD

Remote Onboarding and Socialization Practices: An Empirical Analysis of Service Firms in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Ebimie Melbourne Eleke

Abstract

This study examines the impact of remote onboarding and socialization practices on employee integration and organizational commitment in service firms within Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shift to remote work have necessitated fundamental changes in how organizations integrate new employees, making this investigation particularly timely and relevant. Using a survey research design, data were collected from 215 employees across service firms in Bayelsa State through structured questionnaires. Simple regression analysis was employed to test three hypotheses examining the relationships between virtual orientation programs, digital socialization strategies, remote onboarding effectiveness, employee integration, and organizational commitment. The results reveal that virtual orientation programs significantly enhance employee integration (? = 0.647, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.419), digital socialization strategies significantly improve organizational commitment (? = 0.692, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.479), and remote onboarding effectiveness significantly predicts organizational commitment (? = 0.715, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.511). The study concludes that well- designed remote onboarding and socialization practices are crucial for successful employee integration in the digital work environment. Recommendations include investing in comprehensive virtual orientation platforms, implementing structured digital socialization programs, providing mentorship support, and continuously evaluating remote onboarding effectiveness.

Keywords

Remote OnboardingVirtual OrientationDigital SocializationEmployee IntegrationOrganizational CommitmentService FirmsBayelsa State

References

Bauer, T. N. (2020). Onboarding new employees: Maximizing success. SHRM Foundation Effective Practice Guidelines. SHRM Foundation. Bauer, T. N., Erdogan, B., & Caughlin, D. E. (2021). Onboarding new employees: A comprehensive review and integration. Journal of Management, 47(5), 1073-1106. Cooper-Thomas, H. D., & Anderson, N. (2006). Organizational socialization: A new theoretical model. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 21(5), 492-516. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage. Hickman, L., & Akdere, M. (2021). Virtual onboarding: Best practices during COVID-19 and beyond. Human Resource Development International, 24(3), 350-362. Lartey, F. M. (2021). Managing employee onboarding during COVID-19: Challenges and support strategies. European Journal of Training and Development, 45(4/5), 382-398. Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (1991). A three-component conceptualization of organizational commitment. Human Resource Management Review, 1(1), 61-89. Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill. Osibanjo, O. A., Salau, O. P., & Falola, H. O. (2020). Workplace telepressure and employee commitment in Nigerian public sector. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 35(3), 190-207. Saks, A. M., & Gruman, J. A. (2018). Socialization resources theory and newcomers' work engagement. Career Development International, 23(1), 12-32. Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach (7th ed.). Wiley. Van Maanen, J., & Schein, E. H. (1979). Toward a theory of organizational socialization. Research in Organizational Behavior, 1, 209-264. Wang, B., Liu, Y., Qian, J., & Parker, S. K. (2020). Achieving effective remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applied Psychology, 70(1), 16-59. Wanberg, C. R., Zhu, J., Kanfer, R., & Zhang, Z. (2020). The role of proactivity and socialization behaviors in newcomer learning and adjustment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 105(5), 492-506.

More Articles from INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

Governance Quality and Capital Inflows in Selected Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas)

Author: Ekere, Edobot, Chukwu, Sancho Nwobuisi , Amadi, Sonny Nwonodi , Ewubare, Dennis Brown

Farmer–Herder Crises and Its Implications on Food Security in Sankera, Benue State, Nigeria: An Empirical Mixed-Methods Study

Author: Iorkaan Samuel Kuma, ., Yange Clement Terlumun, ., Bam Clement Liambee, Hubert, Keghnen Katyona, ., Terngu Paul Ugosor

The Cost of Emotional Labour: Implications for Commercializing Human Resource Outcomes in Modern Organizations

Author: Samuel, Ogonda Victor PhD, Uhuru, Goodluck Prince. PhD, Agara Splendorpeace Dunbo PhD