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Savarese_Dissertation_FINAL.pdf (1.41 MB)

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Living in the Liminal: A Phenomenological Study of the Socialization Experience of Midlevel Managers in Student Affairs

Savarese, Krystyne A.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7188-1752
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554908463303292

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Educational Studies.
Mid-level managers (MLMs) operate from the center of an organization, and must regularly navigate relationships with peers, supervisees, and organizational leadership. As MLMs enter new positions, their success depends on their ability to make sense of not only their individual job role, but also the culture of their department, division, and institution (Mather, Bryan, & Faulkner, 2009). Because the midlevel role is varied, fluid, and complex, these staff members face significant challenges during this transition (Clegg & McAuley, 2005). Although the field of student affairs offers intensive socialization support to entry-level professionals through graduate coursework, assistantships, and initial job training, this practice declines sharply at the mid-level. Operating concurrently with organizational decision-makers and ground level staff, new MLMs are often in the position of having to guide meaning making for their supervisees before they have fully formed an understanding of organizational norms and values (Mather et al., 2009). However, employee onboarding for MLMs is not widely addressed in student affairs literature (Carpenter & Stimpson, 2007; Mather et al., 2009). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how new mid-level managers in student affairs experience the socialization process. Theory surrounding socialization, organizational culture, and professional identity was applied to the literature on sensemaking as the conceptual framework for studying this phenomenon. By designing intentional socialization processes that encourage dialogue at multiple levels, student affairs units can engage new MLMs in the co-creation of meaning regarding job role and organizational culture to ensure the success of these professionals.
Tatiana Suspitsyna, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Susan Jones, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Colette Dollarhide, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
278 p.
Education; Educational Leadership; Higher Education; Higher Education Administration
midlevel manager; middle manager; manager; socialization; sensemaking; organizational culture; phenomenology; student affairs; onboarding; professional identity; organizational socialization;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Savarese, K. A. (2019). Living in the Liminal: A Phenomenological Study of the Socialization Experience of Midlevel Managers in Student Affairs [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554908463303292

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Savarese, Krystyne. Living in the Liminal: A Phenomenological Study of the Socialization Experience of Midlevel Managers in Student Affairs . 2019. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554908463303292.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Savarese, Krystyne. "Living in the Liminal: A Phenomenological Study of the Socialization Experience of Midlevel Managers in Student Affairs ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1554908463303292

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1554908463303292
588
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.