Onboarding

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of acclimating new personnel to an organization involves introducing them to its culture and operational norms
2. A method for helping newcomers understand their job functions and corporate environment is essential for effective employee integration
3. The process of familiarizing new hires with a company's systems, values, and duties to help them transition smoothly

Etymology: "Onboarding" is a compound of the phrase "on board," meaning aboard a ship, train or aircraft, plus the suffix "-ing." The sense of bringing someone aboard a vessel or vehicle is the root from which the modern workplace meaning grew: a newcomer is taken "on board" the organisation, much as a passenger or crew member is welcomed onto a ship. The term took hold in American management jargon during the 1970s, when companies began formalising how new hires were introduced to their roles, colleagues and workplace culture. The word is therefore a recent coinage built from an old nautical phrase, not a term with centuries of use behind it.

Synonyms: orientation, induction, training, integration, familiarization