POST 16 Identity Authority and Learning to Write in New Workplaces

            In the article, “Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in New Workplaces” Elizabeth Wardle explains information she took from sociologist Etienne Wenger, which is the three models of belonging.  Those three models that belong to Wenger and are discussed by Wardle are engagement, imagination, and alignment.

            Engagement is the aspect of earning membership or fitting in to a new environment. For example, when a new employee is hired into a work area, they work to bond with current established members of the team through common goals.  The newly hired worker will identify with the older members by working hard to reach the common goal.  They work hard to achieve the common goal so that they can become more intertwined with one or more of the “old-timers”.  If the new member of the team does a poor job of working toward the goal it will result in a poor relationship with the current members. For example in a sorority when new members are brought in and they focus on partying more than the important aspects such as philanthropies and community events, they gain a bad reputation with the active members.

            Imagination occurs after a new member is accepted into the new environment they joined.  Once accepted by current established members, it is the responsibility of the new worker to reach out and create new ideas for the goals.  If the imagination model goes well for the new member, it will advance them in the community and help to cement them as a contributing member.  When a new member in a sorority has become accepted and initiated, they can then begin to contribute ideas for policies or events.  If their proposals go well and work out, it helps them to establish respect with their membership.

Alignment is the last and the most personal of the models. Once a new member has been accepted and has proven to be a successful member, the more established members open up more and form relationship with the new members. These relationships rely on boundaries and common goals.  When new members of a sorority show imagination within the organization they will be noticed and sought out by active members to form relationship such as friends or possibly mentoring.