Full papers
Full Papers
Positioning Career Identity Construction: Identity Work and Identity Status Models (270)
Author/s: Kathryn A. Boyle
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Career identity, identity work, identity status models, Generation Y, sense making
Abstract: To date, little has been done to illuminate the process of identity content construction, how individuals use exploration to construct career-identities, or how identity construction processes function at both the personal and social level. In response, the purpose of this paper is to explore the theoretical contribution of recent research carried out by the author into the nature of career-identity and its construction. Firstly, a grounded theory study of 36 Generation Y graduates from U.K. and Irish universities resulted in the development of two models: a Cycle of Individual Career-Identity Construction (CICIC); and a Conceptual Model of Individual Career-Identity. These models demonstrate that Generation Y graduates have fluid rather than stable career-identities, that they put emphasis on personal over social identity, and that they construct and reconstruct their individual career-identities over time, primarily through sense-making processes as opposed to identification processes. Secondly, this paper makes a further theoretical contribution by attempting to locate the CICIC within extant literature, while integrating concepts from pragmatism, identity work, sense-making, and identity status models to advance our understanding of career-identity construction as a process. Practical implications include a review of retention strategies and career counselling interventions.
Spanish Expatriates Identities and Identity Work During an International Assignment a Longitudinal Study (305)
Author/s: Rosalia Cascon-Pereira
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: N/A
Abstract: Identity and identity work processes have been recently identified in the expatriate literature as important pieces to understand expatriates experiences and adjustment. Nonetheless, this research has been approached from a unique theoretical lens to the study of identity, the Social Identity Approach. In addition, the extant studies have lacked a longitudinal approach and a specific focus on identity change and identity work. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to fulfil these research gaps by focusing on the multiple identitities and the process of identity work of 16 Spanish expatriates from a longitudinal approach. Specifically, it focuses on how expatriates construct and change their personal and social identities and the cultural identities of the HCNs during their international assignment (IA) through the construction of meanings. And on how these meanings and narratives foster or hinder their adjustment to the host country. I adopted a social constructivist framework in which meanings play a central role in the analysis of expatriate identities and identity work. I collected data through in-depth interviews and through the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), a constructivist technique (Kelly, 1955) specially designed to capture meanings. Data collection was conducted just before expatriates initiating the international assignment and immediately after returning from it. A total of 34 interviews were conducted and 34 grids collected. Different patterns of identity and identity work emerge from the data that can be related with a better or worse adjustment. Several theoretical contributions and practical implications derive from these findings.
A Socially Constructed Identity: Business Orientations and Home Country Nationalism of the Palestine Diaspora (449)
Author/s: F. Robert Buchanan
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: diaspora, nationalism, social constructivism, Palestine
Abstract: Home country nationalism of hardship nation emigres is an under-researched topic area, particularly pertaining to Palestine which is an extreme case of oppression and apartheid. Some might consider it irrational, but we apply social constructivism theory in understanding the nature of the loyalty of these diasporans. A desire to live in Palestine in the future was not in itself significantly related to a desire to support the nation. Findings indicate that family support and a sense of hopefulness for the future of Palestine influence altruistic individuals in the sample to contribute to charities, NGOs, and educational institutions. They make financial investments mostly in real estate and to a much lesser degree in businesses.
How Chinese Managers Construct Their Post-Merger Identification After An Acquisition In Europe? (570)
Author/s: Shuang Liang Anna Lupina-Wegener Rolf Van Dick Johannes Ullrich
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Cross-border Mergers and acquisitions, Post-merger identification, Chinese acquisition
Abstract: Organizational identification has attracted many interests in past years. Employees who identify with the organization are typically loyal to their organizations. It is necessary to understand how employees construe and reconcile their identification when they face tremendous organizational changes in M and As. Majority studies focused on antecedents of post merger identification in developed economies. How employees from emerging market construct PMI is still under explored. Our study adopted a qualitative case study to investigate how Chinese managers construct PMI after acquiring a western company. Our findings reveal that Chinese managers take acquisition as an opportunity for their identity enhancement. Though identity enhancement exposes them in dramatic organizational changes, Chinese managers do not perceive these changes as threats because of organizational identity flexibility. Interestingly, two non merging identities are flexibly bridged and merged by newly constructed organizations, and finally contribute to a high PMI.
Workers with Intellectual Disability Connecting with Social Identity to Enhance Performance Through Work at Three Hotels in Australia (580)
Author/s: Hannah Meacham Jillian Cavanagh Timothy Bartram
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Social Identity, Performance, Disability, Inclusion
Abstract: This study is about workers with intellectual disability WWID in the Australian workforce. Social structures may support WWID but little is known about these workers and the ways they develop social identity. Evans and Davis 2005 theoretical framework of internal social structure is expanded to investigate the influences of organisations social structure and the performance of WWID. A qualitative case study approach was used to interview, focus group and observe 19 WWID, three human resource managers and three duty managers at three hotels in Australia. We build on Hutchinson et al 2017 research that suggests middle managers are crucial for the success of inclusion and performance. The study suggests when managers have positive attitudes and implement inclusive HR interventions, WWID are more likely to connect with social identification and enhance their performance.
The Qualitative Survey As Mechanism For Exploring Organisation Identity (658)
Author/s: Anne Crafford Johann Mouton
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: organisation, identity, qualitative survey, narrative, bricoleur
Abstract: The contribution of this study lies in the development of a qualitative survey for obtaining member-based descriptions of organisation identity. It was found that the qualitative survey provides a means of accessing narratives fragments which, using a bricoleur-like process, enabled the development of organisational identity narratives and statements which encompassed a wide range of member perspectives as well as dissonant voices.
How do Clean Workers Cope with Dignity Violations and Occupational Stigma (671)
Author/s: John McCormack Matt Bamber Brent Lyons
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Identity, Workplace, dignity, stigma
Abstract: We analyze how teaching-only faculty TOF in higher education self constitute a sense that their occupation is stigmatised because of violations to their dignity at work. We identify and discuss how experiences of in dignity are involved in TOF understanding of their occupation as stigmatized and the corresponding negative experiences of this spoiled identity state, specifically devaluation, disengagement, and discrimination. Finally, we describe how TOF employ four forms of dignity in work related identity talk to cope, namely autonomy, job satisfaction, meaningful work, and learning and development. We contribute to identity theory and organisation studies in three ways. First, we identify and analyse the stigmatisation of clean work and clean workers. Second, we demonstrate the linkage between in dignity, dirty work, and stigma. Third, we propose that a hidden and visible dimension should be added to the dirty work classification framework.
Organizational Identity Orientation: Exploring The Link Between Organizational Identity And Stakeholder Relations (774)
Author/s: Anastasia Naranova
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: identity, identity orientation
Abstract: Existing organisational identity research falls short on moving beyond the internally focused firm-centric approach and providing insights on the role of identity in corporate interactions with external environment. In this paper, we explore the role of organizational identity in corporate stakeholder relations expressed through the concept of organizational identity orientation in mission statements as corporate communication artefacts. The study features sustainable banks, members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), which simultaneously strive for financial resilience and community development goals, and contrasts and compares them with conventional financial institutions included in the Global Systemically Important Financial Institutions (GSIFIs) list.
We employ organizational identity orientation framework (Brickson, 2005; 2007) to explore how stakeholder relations approaches vary between the two inherently different market fields. We discover that driven by the values-based logic within the sustainable banking field, sustainable banks predominantly demonstrate relational and collectivistic identity orientations towards stakeholders in their mission statements. We further observe that organizational identity orientation within sustainable banking field is correlated with the nature of the organisation. Our findings suggest that co-operative institutions tend to express relational stakeholder approach, whereas micro-finance organizations most often choose collectivistic orientation.
Challenges of Identity work in Africas Temporary Organisations Developing Tsenay Serequeberhans horizons (793)
Author/s: Obuks Ejohwomu Malachy Igwilo
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: temporary organisation, Horizon, process ontology, African, historicity
Abstract: African organizations are becoming more and more complex in terms of the identities of project managers PM and the organisational structure of their temporary organisations. This creates interesting notions about PM in an African environment, and how this continuity mirrors the ever changing nature of the built environment. In this paper we develop an approach to process ontology to explore questions of complex and conflictual identity work in an African context. We draw on Tsenay Serequeberhans idea of horizon as a key ingredient for interpreting identity in an African context. We demonstrate how the idea of horizon can lead to understanding of identity work in challenging and ever changing project environment. We argue that horizons as recognition of historicity and context are essential in the understanding of the processes and contours involved in identity work in an African construction project especially as influences of standards and standardisation cause tensions and disequilibrium to the African project manager. This paper therefore contributes to the understanding of identity work and demonstrates the importance of the work of Tsenay Serequeberhan.
Work Integrated Learning and Development of Graduate Identity (799)
Author/s: Angela McGrane Nigel King Viv Burr Tina McAdie
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Graduate identity, Work Integrated Learning, Professional development
Abstract: Work Integrated Learning WIL is increasingly promoted as a tool to encourage skills in graduates that academic study alone may struggle to provide. However the role it can play in influencing graduate identity is often overlooked, as it is seen more narrowly as something which is only useful in leading to employment.This paper attempts to redress the balance. The development of professional identity in graduates is explored in three short vignettes taken from a larger longitudinal study of student experiences of WIL. These draw on both self characterisation sketches, a method for describing the self developed by Kelly 1955, 1991, and on interviews which took place with students in both second and final years of study. Findings are discussed and contrasted with both Social Identity Theory and Holmes model of emergent graduate identity and illustrate the diversity of effects on identity that may be experienced by students during the course of their studies.
Do Academics Identify With Their Institutions? A Qualitative Study of Academics'Organisational Identification (866)
Author/s: Beverly Celia Shrand
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Organisational Identification, Academic Identity, Social Identity Theory, Academics
Abstract: This qualitative study explored how organisational identification manifested for South African academics. Given that academics are believed to have a strong identification with their career, profession or discipline, the research set out to investigate to what extent academics experience a sense of identification with their institutions. This paper reports on the second phase of a mixed methods study. Fifteen interviews were conducted with a subset of academics who responded to the quantitative phase, comprising an online survey. The findings were analysed using a form of thematic analysis. The results highlighted that pride in membership was an important factor that encouraged organisational identification. Instead of taking outsider criticism personally, participants seemed to critically evaluate the legitimacy of outsiders views. University managers would do well to build coherence into their institutional branding, and to nurture academics identification with their departments and disciplines since ultimately the institution might benefit from this identification with nested targets.
Gender Transitions: How Do Employees With A Newly-Assumed Gender Identity Renegotiate Their Work Identity? (968)
Author/s: Jade Kim Etain Kidney Vincent Mangematin
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: identity, gender, transgender, diversity, equality
Abstract: This article examines how a change in an employees non work identity influences their work identity through the prism of employees that have to renegotiate their work identity with a newly assumed gender identity. Through in depth interviews with transgender employees in Ireland, we discuss the strategies for identity work put in place by this community and whether or not these strategies have helped them reconnect their nonwork identity with their work identity. Our results show that transgender employees identity works were expressed through coming out, planning and coordinating their transition, and passing. However, we discuss how passing has its limitation for the expression of a transgender employees work identity and how gender transitions in the workplace are a way of highlighting the diversity and equality climate of organizations for all employees.
Ethnic diversity and hybridity in a Faultline Society the case of Malaysia (1007)
Author/s: Seyyedali Ziaei Alice Lam
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Ethnic Identity, Social Identity Theory, Malaysia, Faultlines
Abstract: Through the lenses of social identity theory and the faultline model, this study explores the attitudes of individuals towards inter ethnic interaction in a society with deep ethnic faultlines and how these attitudes influence the patterns of their formal and informal interactions at workplace study environment. Faultline model predicts the exacerbation of categorisation in case of alignment of multiple diversity aspects. Ethnicity, depending on the context, takes on multiple meanings and in the Malaysian context of this study, is linked to religion, language, culture, and a history of socioeconomic status and political allegiance. Based on 51 semi structured individual interviews in healthcare settings in Malaysia, it was found that while formal interactions followed hierarchical lines to a great extent, informal interactions were characterised by attitudinal orientations of individuals. Three categories of such attitudes were identified as resistance, tolerance, and transcendence. The first and third categories exhibit clear negative and positive attitudes towards diversity, respectively. The second and largest category is signified by ambivalent, indifferent, and neutral attitudes towards ethnic diversity. In organisational settings, the availability of an individuals ethnic peers interacted with the diversity attitudes of the person to shape their interactional patterns. These patterns ranged from assimilation and out grouping to sub grouping and withdrawal. Moreover, religious barriers, mainly through limiting commensality, were found to play a prominent role in inhibiting inter ethnic socialisation. Nonetheless, this research has shown that even in a society segregated along ethno religious lines, hybridity is very much present and individuals do interact across social boundaries. The diversity attitudes and interactional patterns observed in this study reflect the dynamic interplay of macro level societal dividing forces and micro level individual tolerances and flexibilities in multi ethnic settings.
Identity Formation and Resistance in Paternalism (1053)
Author/s: Elham Moonesirust
Track: Identity
Paper Type: Full Papers
Keywords: Paternalism, identity and identity work, discourse, ethics of care, resistance, control
Abstract: Research on paternalism in organisations draws our attention to employee obedience through creating a sense of thankfulness and indebtedness to the employer. However, the dynamics of obedience in such systems and how the sense of employee thankfulness could constitute a mechanism of control is under-researched. Based on an in depth case study of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany, my study contributes to extant literature by shedding light on the way that employees make sense of the paternalist employer and of themselves in this system. Five types of identities that employee discursively constituted under the paternalistic system of Volkswagen were identified. I examined how the interrelation between these discursively construed identities results in employees supressing their own and others resistance and how they even encourage corporate paternalism as they see this to be a means through which they can care for the wellbeing of their community.