What are the three stages of organizational socialization?

• A. Anticipatory, Metamorphosis, Encounter.
• B. Anticipatory, Encounter, Metamorphosis.
• C. Metamorphosis, Anticipatory, Encounter.
• D. Anticipatory, Encounter, Metamorphosis.

Answer: (D)

Organizational socialization unfolds as a newcomer learns what to expect, then faces the reality of the job, and finally fully adopts the organization’s norms and role. The first stage, anticipatory, happens before you actually join or as you’re preparing to join, when you form ideas about the organization, the job, and the culture. The second stage, encounter, occurs when you enter the organization and confront the real circumstances—your duties, teammates, and informal rules—often checking how well your expectations line up with reality. The final stage, metamorphosis, is when you adjust, internalize the norms and values, and become a confident, integrated member of the organization. This progression from expectation to reality to integration explains why the sequence of anticipatory, encounter, metamorphosis is the most accurate description of the process.