Newcomers' use of colleagues as role models: research propositions for investigative thinking styles of law enforcement detectives

Abstract

Research indicates several important differences between a variety of sub-cultural groups nested within the larger police culture that newcomers to law enforcement must come to grips with. The investigative culture of detectives is one such police sub-culture that this paper is concerned with in relation to how newcomers use colleagues as role models. Newcomers use several role models, adopting different types of knowledge in order to create their own personal style as police investigators. In accordance with the partial use of role models, the newcomer needs access to several potential role models. Role models represent different investigation thinking styles, such as the method, challenge, skills, or risk style. Role models enable the newcomer to acquire needed knowledge for making a choice concerning which investigation style to choose. First, by reviewing the characteristics of role models and their thinking style they use individuals that best fit to their own perceptions. Second, it is necessary to obtain knowledge directly through interaction with those role models. This is particularly the case when a thinking style involves the use of extensive tacit knowledge. Finally, who newcomers identifies with is important for whom they prefers to use as role model(s). To what extent newcomers use role models is a result of own expectations and self-confidence, which is related to the degree to which the newcomer is proactive in own learning. Proactive newcomers get access to informal learning arenas and build relationships with successful detectives. Proactive newcomers have access to more knowledge and are more likely to succeed in their new jobs. Less proactive and insecure newcomers are less likely to succeed as a result of not obtaining enough knowledge and experience together with established colleagues.

The Relationship between Social Capital and Sales Agents’ Performance

“…Sales agents with a proactive personality strive to expand the business scope, contact customers, and maintain good relations with colleagues; they are not shy to consult with supervisors and predecessors for work and are even willing to spend more time and energy on work in order to build their own network system and enhance the strength of social capital. This finding reflects the research results of Filstad, Dean, and Fahsing (2007). Many studies at home and abroad have confirmed that a proactive personality is a necessary basic element for sales agents because their income is not fixed but comes entirely from their own efforts.…”

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Evaluation of Fraud Examinations: The Case of Inappropriate Accounting Practices at Fuji Xerox

“…An investigation is a process where examiners are to combine collected information with interpretation, reflection and context to develop knowledge (Filstad, Dean, Fahsing, and Gottschalk 2007). Examiners are then to apply the knowledge to reconstruct past events and sequences of events.…”

Health Behaviour of Higher Education Employees – Value-Transmitting Conduct of Professionals to their Students

“…Educators in higher education, with their preferably automatized health conscious behaviour, could be the sources of setting examples for the growing generations (Lumpkin, 2008), and they could be role models through respect, admiration and imitation (Paice et al, 2005). Role-models could be those individuals whose behaviour is an example or a model for others, who want to learn these (Filstad et al, 2007). Certain professional values, attitudes, forms of behaviour (Paice et al, 2005), success in sciences and professional career (Perry & Nixon, 2005) can also be examples.…”