The Role Of Moral Identity In Newcomers' Socialization

This dissertation addresses the role of moral identity - or the self-importance that people place on morality as a central part of their identity - in the experiences of organizational newcomers. I address the role of moral identity from two sides. First, I explore how organizational forces in the form of ethical socialization interact with individual traits to determine whether moral identity increases or decreases. Second, I explore the role of individuals' moral identity in helping them transition during the socialization process from being organizational outsider to insiders. In the process, I address how moral identity influences the way that individuals come to think about their work. Finally, I conclude by discussing future studies that can and will follow in this vein. Specifically, I look at an important tool that can be used to influence individuals' values - the organizational story. I posit several research questions concerning how organizational stories may be used to achieve different outcomes. I explore the empirical questions in the field using a longitudinal survey design. The sample site is a large IT firm that prioritizes ethics and organizational values