Onboarding

Onboarding (hereinafter, the Process) is the process and/or the learning sequence that depicts that process of either:

Integrating a new employee into an organization including helping this employee to adapt to the organization's culture (this process is more specifically known as organizational socialization, socialization process, or, simply, socialization); or
Familiarizing a new customer or client with one's products or services.

Definitions

Socialization. A process that adapts employees to the organization's culture.

Socialization. The process that helps employees adapt to the organization's culture.

Socialization is the Process through which:

A new employee acquires the necessary competence and credentials in order to become a productive organizational member and insider. This process is also known as organizational socialization, socialization process, or, simply, socialization;
An employer settles a new employee in a particular position.

Onboarding can also described as the mechanism of integrating a new employee into the enterprise and its culture.

Prearrival stage. The period of learning in the socialization process that occurs before a new employee joins the organization.
Encounter stage. The stage in the socialization process in which a new employee sees what the organization is really like and confronts the possibility that expectations and reality may diverge.
Metamorphosis stage. The stage in the socialization process in which a new employee changes and adjusts to the job, work group, and organization.