The practice of socialization and the socialization of practice

Abstract

Purpose At the core of how societies operate, lies social interaction. Organizations as significant social bodies rely on social interaction both to get things done in order to remain sustainable and to also impart a contribution to the wider society. Understanding the dynamics of social interactions in the way social agents and social action take place through the lens of social practice theory could yield powerful insights both about practices of socialization as well as the socialization of practices. The purpose of this paper is to fundamentally reveal the tensions that such interactions expose and the dynamics in negotiating individual and collective priorities. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a conceptual approach on the links to be established between practice and socialization. Findings This paper focuses on how a practice perspective provides valuable insights about how social agents get things done in organizations. Research limitations/implications This paper is linked with other papers in this issue where the dynamics in negotiating individual and collective priorities reveal the tensions that such interactions expose (“transaction”). This paper provides a useful foundation for examining why organization practices tend to have an institutional character. This issue reveals new possibilities for appreciating the emergent nature of socialization both as a practice and a process striving towards institutionalization. Originality/value This paper explores socialization as a practice that can provide new insights into the dynamics of social interaction.