Creating an Orientation Kit: What Essential Materials Should I Include?

Hi,

I am assigned to formulate an orientation kit. Can you tell me what materials should be included in it?

Soumya Shankar

Hi Soumya,

It will help the citehr members in answering your query if you could provide some details regarding your requirements. What kind of O'Kit do you have to prepare? For whom? What is the purpose, etc.? Is this related to something called 'Induction'? A well-defined question often results in a well-defined answer. 😊

ShoOOonya

1) Employee Handbook

2) Some company history and introduction, and some explanation about the culture of the company.

3) Benefit package details (health care manual, etc.)

4) Training information to help them understand the procedures for training.

Hope this is helpful.

Dear Soumya,

Though your question is not very clear as to what type of Orientation Kit you want, with my experience, I am listing a few items which are a prerequisite in case of orientation for new joinees.

1. Joining Kit - includes all the joining forms required as per the company.
2. A welcome note.
3. A kit which has a brief of the company, senior management, HR policies, company's holiday list, extension list of employees.
4. An intro round with all the departments.
5. A writing pad and a pen.

Hope it helps.

Take care,
Kavita

Hi,

This kit would be for the new joiners and is a part of the induction program. I had in mind that we give them complete details of their job, from how to configure their own systems to the company profile and policies. This kit would include their notepad, pen, etc., along with details about their buddy.

So, how is the idea? Just tell me if there's anything more or anything new/innovative.

Soumya Shankar

Hi, Soumya.

You could also search the CiteHR using keywords 'Induction.' I guess several posts have been made under that heading. You will find a lot of useful material there.

All the Best! :lol: ... sho :D :o onya ...

Hi Soumya!

I am a new member to this site, and your query on "orientation Kit" was the first post that I read.

As far as my understanding of Orientation goes, I'd like to highlight the following points:

1) Orientation and Induction are two separate things and should not be interchangeably used.

2) Induction is the process of acclimatizing a new joiner to the organization, its policies, procedures, people, structure, etc.

3) Orientation is the process of introducing new or existing employees to something new or different that the organization might be undertaking.

For example, in my company, when I joined, I was taken on a 2-week induction tour where I was introduced to the people, procedures, practices, and culture of the workplace. Later, when my company implemented SAP, all prospective users of SAP (new or existing) were taken for an orientation program that gave them insight into how SAP would change their work style.

Keeping the above in view, I'd suggest you include the following in your Orientation kit:

1) Brief write-up on what the Orientation is about

2) People who are closely involved with the Orientation

3) What the reader is expected to understand from it

4) Why the Orientation module is important

5) FAQs on the Orientation topic

Hope the above was of some use to you.

Cheers! :)

Lalita

Hi Soumya and Lalita,

The difference pointed out between Orientation and Induction is taken. The fact remains that the underlying principles for both remain the same. Introducing the subject (new or existing employee) to something new (the company itself or a new process). The content will vary, but the methodology and framework are more or less the same. That's why the words are often used interchangeably without distorting the meaning or the intent. The whole idea is to make the transition smooth, a kind of 'Change Management.'

Soumya, you could get some tips from 'Change Management' principles too.

ShoOOonya...

Hi Saumya,

I understand from your elaboration about the task that you are trying to create an "Induction" kit. In that case, the following could be of use:

1) Company history and profile
2) Big-Bang Gang members list (that's the name we use at our workplace for the bigwigs in the company) 😉
3) Brief about all functional units
4) Organization chart
5) Rules and regulations
6) Joining formalities checklist
7) Voice of employees (one eminent person from each department telling something about the organization; maybe all age brackets could be covered here)
8) Brief on the projects undertaken by the organization
9) Write-up on the sister concerns of the organization, if any
10) What the organization offers to society and its well-being

Hope the above info is useful to you.

Cheers!
Lalita

Hi all,

Your discussion caught my attention today, as I am supposed to conduct an orientation for the company. Just wanted some of your opinions.

Some background: In the past, my company has never prepared orientation kits, and all presentations were conducted according to the different sections involved. At the present moment, I am unable to propose any improvements, like the OK, as we are undergoing a cost-saving exercise.

(The Question) So my alternative, which I was thinking about, was to use our company website as an orientation material. Why? Because most company background information is already there, enabling me to prepare just a few other presentation slides. The functional units' representatives will prepare their own presentations. My area of responsibility is only in introducing the company, its rules and regulations, as well as my own section, HR.

The reason I am asking is that I have never conducted any orientation programs before, and all of you seem to speak from experience. I would appreciate it if you could share any setbacks that you can see from my idea or any other helpful advice.

Appreciate your help.

Regards

Hi Noel,

The aim of an induction kit is to introduce a new recruit to the organization. With this aim in mind, it's best to keep things simple and not overwhelm the new person with information. It would be best if you first have a small PowerPoint presentation mentioning the main line of business, mission statement, the various departments that the company is divided into, and a few words about the top management. After the presentation, you could get the HODs to come in and talk briefly about their departments. You could also take the new person around the office facility, make personal introductions, and help them to familiarize themselves with the office building.

Hope this helps!!! 😀