have no business; you feel remote, removed from the real world of business. The good thing is you make lots of contact with IP people, and share in the culture. That's really the good part, because you'll need these contacts. You'll need the Senators.' (Argentinian finance manager)The mentors not only give advice, but also help to imbue their wards with a bigger sense of what IP stands for and to help them identify their role within that community. This is consistent with Trice and Beyer's (1993: 130) view that 'organizational socialization consists of social processes through which organizations transmit to members the expectations associated with their roles'. For Van Maanen and Schein (1979) this form of socialization defines the individual's movement along 'inclusionary boundaries'. Networking enables the IP manager to acquire the social knowledge necessary to be an 'insider', and to be accepted as a member of the cadre of high-fliers. Some quotes illustrate this:'Before I went to IPI I was actually told by my superiors to make contacts for the future, to get people's business cards, and even photos if possible. They were really serious about it. Business cards I could understand, but photographs! It seemed funny at the time, but now I see what they meant.' (Nigerian production manager)'Working in different countries and meeting different kinds of people certainly helps you to learn about other cultures that you have to deal with in your career. Most managers believe networking here at the Centre is even better, because it carries that special aura ... gives you an edge ... like one of the chosen few.' (Kenyan training manager) Networking serves an unambiguous functional purpose in career advancement:'In a place that's full of very ambitious people, there's a lot of competition. That's where networking comes in -- you might need to get someone to notice you. It happens informally, not deliberately.' (Pakistani personnel manager)How...
