Autonomy's impact on newcomer proactive behaviour and socialization: A needs–supplies fit perspective

Abstract

This study investigates newcomer proactive behaviour through the lens of person–environment (PE) fit theory. Two competing theories of autonomy‐based needs–supplies (NS) fit were hypothesized to impact both newcomer proactive behaviours and socialization outcomes. Results from two waves of data collected from organizational newcomers indicate support for a self‐regulatory form of relationship, where individuals engaged in different types of proactive behaviours most often when organizational supplies for autonomy did not match their personal needs. Specific types of proactive behaviours including feedback seeking, positive framing, general socializing, networking, and information seeking also mediated the impact ofNSmisfit onto certain socialization outcomes. Much can still be learnt aboutPEfit and proactive behaviours through further integration of ideas from both fields of research.Practitioner pointsEmployers need to understand which types of proactive behaviours to encourage in newcomers in order for them to become active contributors in their new organizational settings.Employers looking to manage newcomer proactive behaviours through autonomy need to carefully manage the amount of autonomy provided relative to individual needs for autonomy.