Once a new employee is hired in an organization, he/she may have to undergo certain processes to get introduced to the organization and learn about its rules and regulations. Induction and orientation are the processes employed by companies for this purpose. These two terms are interrelated and are part of an introductory program that is developed to make employees feel comfortable at the workplace and to obtain the information they need to work efficiently.
As both the processes occur during the initial days when the employee has just joined the company, it becomes difficult to differentiate between them. Induction is essentially the process used to introduce the new employee to the company and the work setting, while orientation is the process through which the new employee is provided basic information about the company so as to inform them about its rules and work policies.
In this article, the two terms will be explained in detail and the differences between them will be clarified.
Definitions and explanations
Induction
Induction basically refers to welcoming a new employee in the organization. This process officially introduces a fresh recruit in the organization so that they formally take charge of their position. In this process, the newcomers are provided an opportunity to learn about the organization and get to known their co-workers as well as the workplace.
The induction process is usually of a short duration and may be carried out on the day the employee joins the organization. The employee is explained the main things that he/she needs to know about the organization so that they can quickly adjust to the new settings. This will help them in achieving the highest efficiency in the lowest possible time. Through this process, a favorable first impression is created on the new employees that they are part of the organization.
In the induction process, the employee is provided an overview of the company and is explained the organizational hierarchy. The employee may also be given information about the vision, mission, objectives, values, norms, policies, clients, company history and dress code of the company. The new employees are informed about the people they have to report to and the training that they may have to go through to carry out the rules and responsibilities allocated to them.The process of induction is in the form of a presentation, and not training.
Orientation
The orientation process is carried out to assist the new employees in adjusting to their position, department, responsibilities and the work environment. This process is more formal in nature and extends over a longer time period as organizations spend a few weeks or often, even a month on the orientation of their new employees.
In the orientation period, the employee will be explained about the assignments allocated to them, their team members and the different systems and processes of the organization. The new recruit is helped in becoming familiar with the work setting and the tasks he/she is supposed to carry out.
The goal of the program is to make the employees feel relaxed at the workplace by removing anxiety and fear from their minds. When employees have just joined an organization, it is normal for them to feel apprehensive and worried about whether they will be able to effectively execute the tasks assigned to them. During the orientation process, employees are provided vital information about the work environment so as to decrease their anxiety. Any mistakes made by the employees during the orientation period are considered as part of their learning process. There is a gradual decrease in the occurrence of these mistakes, and by the end of the orientation period, the employees become well prepared to handle the complexities of their job on their own.
Difference between induction and orientation
Some points of difference between induction and orientation are listed below:
1. Meaning
Induction is the process of welcoming new employees into the organization and officially making them a part of the organization. Orientation is a more formal process that occurs after induction and is carried out to help the employees adjust to their position and the work environment.
2. Duration
Induction is of a shorter duration and is typically carried out on only the day the employee formally joins the organization. Orientation, however, extends for longer time periods and may often be carried out for a few weeks.
3. Order
Induction typically occurs first and is followed by orientation.
4. Includes
In the induction process, the employee is introduced to other employees and the work environment to make them feel at ease in the new setting. Employees are provided a preview about their jobs and the company so that they know the kind of people and environment they will be working with. In the orientation process, the employees are made familiar with the work environment, machines, tools and tasks that they are supposed to carry out.
5. Kind of process
The induction process is more like a presentation that is made by the employer for the employee, i.e. it is a one-way process in which the employer explains the new recruits about their job. On the other hand, orientation is more like a training process where the employees are made to learn about the job. It is a two-way process where both the manager and the employee interact with one another and with other employees in the organization.
6. Level of formality
Induction is an informal process, whereas orientation is more formal in nature.
Induction vs orientation – tabular comparison
A comparison of induction and orientation in tabular form is presented below:
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| Meaning | ||||
| The process of introducing new employees and welcoming them into the organization | The process of making new employees familiar with the work environment so that they can adjust to their new position and work environment | |||
| Duration | ||||
| Short-duration | Long-duration | |||
| Order | ||||
| Occurs first | Occurs after induction | |||
| Includes | ||||
| Preview of company, organizational hierarchy, policies, etc. given to the employees | Employees are explained about the work processes, team members, tools and equipment they may have to use | |||
| Kind of process | ||||
| One-way process; carried out in the form of a presentation | Two-way process; carried out as a training program | |||
| Level of formality | ||||
| Informal | Formal | |||
Conclusion – induction vs orientation
It is important for every organization to carry out an induction and orientation program so that the employees become aware of the rules and policies of the company and align themselves with the company as soon as possible.
Each organization may have a different induction and orientation program; however, their overall objective is to enable smooth integration of the new recruits into the organization. Through these programs, trust and confidence of the employees is developed, as well as a feeling of being part of the organization. This will ensure that they work efficiently to fulfill their tasks and hence, accomplish overall organizational objectives.
