Orientation Handbook For New Employees - Case study on a containerized shipping agency in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study aims to create a comprehensive and structured orientation handbook for new employees at a containerized shipping agency in Sri Lanka, addressing gaps in the current onboarding process. The research aims to develop a comprehensive guide for new employees, covering the entire process from a vessel's arrival at port to its departure, with a focus on ensuring clear and consistent operational procedures. The study adopts a qualitative approach, incorporating semi-structured interviews with experienced employees of the company and a review of relevant literature to explore the challenges currently faced in the on boarding process. The main findings highlight the challenges in day to day operations, which often lead to errors and delays in the fast-paced shipping industry. The research also reveals that although global standard operating procedures are followed by the company, there is no locally adapted orientation tool, making the proposed handbook an essential resource for new employees. The study concludes that a well-structured orientation handbook can improve employee readiness, reduce operational errors, and streamline the on boarding process. Limitations of the study include its focus on a single company, and suggestions for future research include expanding the scope to multiple organizations and integrating quantitative methods for implementation of performance metrics.