Title
Knock, knock; who's there?: Making sense of organizational entrance through humor
Abstract
The entry of new members into an organization can be a time of uncertainty and creativity for both newcomers and veterans. This study explored how humor communication was used by members of a human service organization to negotiate the entry of newcomers. Humor was frequently utilized by all members to manage stress and uncertainty while making sense of job expectations, organizational culture, and organizational affiliations. Additionally, many members marked moments of identification with the organization through their ability to use and interpret humor in the organization successfully. Together, newcomers and veterans used humor to co-construct the organizational norms and expectations.
Department(s)
Communication
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/0893318911414914
Keywords
humor, organizational entrance, organizational sense making, socialization
Publication Date
2-1-2012
Recommended Citation
Heiss, Sarah N., and Heather J. Carmack. "Knock, knock; who’s there? Making sense of organizational entrance through humor." Management Communication Quarterly 26, no. 1 (2012): 106-132.
Journal Title
Management Communication Quarterly
