Newcomer proactive behaviours: A meta-analytic review

Abstract

This research provides a theoretical and empirical integration of 30 studies (N = 4,681 newcomers) conducted over the last 30 years of research. The first part of this thesis provides meta-analytic estimates of the antecedents and adjustment indicators of ten newcomer proactive behaviours. Results were mixed for the associations between newcomer proactive behaviours and the antecedents investigated (proactive personality, Big Five personality dimensions, self-efficacy) and adjustment indicators (role clarity, job satisfaction, and organisational commitment). For example, direct inquiry was positively associated with proactive personality, extroversion and agreeableness, but not significantly correlated with self-efficacy, openness to experience, conscientiousness, or neuroticism, whereas direct inquiry was positively and meaningfully correlated with all three adjustment indicators. Overall, more consistent small-to-moderate effect sizes were found for the relationships between newcomer proactive behaviours and adjustment indicators. The second part of this study examines whether the variance in meta-analytic effect sizes was attributable to methodological differences in primary studies, either due to study design or the measures used. Of all moderator analyses, only one moderator factor (longitudinal vs. cross-sectional) was identified for the effect size associated with the relationship between networking and role clarity. This difference between study designs suggests that networking has a stronger effect across time than upon organisational entry. In the discussion, theoretical gaps in current knowledge of newcomer proactive behaviours are examined and suggestions for future research and practical implications are put forward. Researchers and practitioners would be better served by: (a) Adopting a process perspective to the study of newcomer proactive behaviours that takes into account the dynamic and interactional nature of proactivity with personal and contextual factors; and (b) adhering to coherent and clear conceptual and operational definitions of newcomer proactive behaviours.