According to Alvesson (2004), the concept of identity relates to the creation of self-perception and often emerges dynamically in a wider context of an organisation. Thus, individuals are more inclined to distinctive behavioural patterns, if they are identifying themselves with an organisation and its socially constructed attributes. The equivocal nature of knowledge-intensive-work, therefore, leaves a gap of meaning that implies the necessity of increased efforts of knowledge-intensive-firms (KIFs) in actively shaping the identity of employees. On these grounds, I will elaborate accordingly on the importance of identity for knowledge work by illustrating essential elements as well as challenges and critical aspects around this topic. Identity …show more content…
In contrast to identity, image refers to the perceived impression of an organisation and its employees from the perspective of an external observer. Due to the often, non-transparent nature of KIFs and the “strong sensitivity to lack of confirmation” of knowledge workers, identity can be understood as the fundament for a distinctive brand image (Alvesson, 2004, p. 194). This indicates the importance of identity work that can be transferred to a holistic image and signifies the status of knowledge workers as valuable for the organisation. A study from Alvesson and Robertson (2006), analysed the implications of several consultancies that generated an elite identity to foster a new structural programme. Amongst other outcomes regarding the motivation of existing employees to produce higher qualitative work, they also emphasised the effect on the external impression that the firm only recruited outstanding applicants, which in turn attracted prestigious clients. According to Newell et al. (2009), this integral approach increases the likelihood of knowledge workers to view their organisation as suitable employer and remain loyal to it. However, Alvesson and Spicer (2016, p. 167) argue, that often organisations are only applying a “window-dressing” approach, that is to project a certain image which is not consistent with what employees perceive as reality or what they identify with. They reason that organisations adopt this strategy to increase staff identification through image construction and but merely focus on what is perceived by their external stakeholder. Hence, it can be questioned, whether identity work is often reduced to appeal to an audience rather than engaging in a deeper examination of what knowledge workers are actually perceiving as important, in order to find a meaningful identity in working
Identity can be described as the way we view ourselves; the way that we distinguish ourselves from others while also comparing our similarities. In other words identity is what makes someone unique and average at the same time. To start off with I was born and raised in Jamaica for 6 years with my parents, but due to the fact that my parents were offered an opportunity to attend school in America they dove for a chance of a better life. My first home was in Jefferson, Missouri where it seemed like it snowed every day. White sheets of snow would cover every inch of the city, no stone or rock was left without an inch of snow. The city was so beautiful to me because it would always light up in front of my eyes. The people there was so nice that
Identification plays a major role in the establishment and maintenance of unified organizations. Aware of this fact, Kangaroo Express, a chain of convenience stores primarily located in southern and southeastern states in the United States, explicitly utilizes different terms, distributes personalized products, and identifies with one consistent logo, with the intent of unifying their employees and workplace relations. On the front page of their website, in just three sentences, the company asserts their values, for all visitors, including current and future employees, to read; the company also mentions their famous personalized “ROO Cup” and boldly includes their specialized logo for all to view. Employing George Cheney’s identification
It is important to discuss how Tony Watson (2011) has redlined ‘identity work’. Watson states, “This incorporates a clear analytical distinction between internal personal `self-identities' and external discursive `social-identities' with social-identities being seen as a link or bridge between socially available discourses and self-identities” (2011).In other words, he discusses how managers, in the work field, identify with the “multiplicity of social-identities” (Watson, 2011). Hence, Don Draper’s lifestyle.
The identity theory of mind holds that states and processes of the mind are identical to states and processes of the brain thus particular psychological states are identical with particular type of physical state. Many objections have been lay out by philosophers who have evaluated this theory one objection that is particularly strong is the Martian and octopus criticism which state that if identity theory is true, than these species should not feel pain, but if they do feel pain than identity theory is not true.
The Self-Classification Theory which follows the theory of Social Identity suggests that individuals classify themselves at different levels. Individuals classify themselves at the group level as a group member different from other group members at the personal level. When this is associated with organizational identification, individuals define themselves at their personal level with their careers, or at the group level, or entirely, with their different subgroups (Tajfel and Turner, 1979). Organizational identification is, unlike social identification, the perception of a person's organizational affiliation. Employees, who are strongly identified with the organization they work with, share the success and failure of the organization (Mael and Ashforth, 1992), becoming "psychologically connected" with the organization by making their self-identification as an organization member. In Ashforth and Mael (1989) studied, the theory of social identity is compared with the theoretical organizational literature indicating the following findings concerning organizational identification;
... M. & Terry, D. (2000). Social identity and self-categorization processes in organizational contexts. Academy of Management Review, 25, 121-140.
Am I Yaman Hussayni or a Syrian? A question that has been stuck in the halls of my brain for the past week. As it seems to be the issue of identity is a complicated one. Do we choose our identity or it chooses us? And what is identity exactly? According to common idea in society identity is a very general word as it has several branches, cultural identity, personal identity, or even educational one are only some of them. To me, identity is the state of mind by which someone is directly recognized as character in public. It is the fragments of our life that will always remain with us, the permanently unchanging parts of us. Our looks, our beliefs, our culture, the places and things
What is personal identity? This question has been asked and debated by philosophers for centuries. The problem of personal identity is determining what conditions and qualities are necessary and sufficient for a person to exist as the same being at one time as another. Some think personal identity is physical, taking a materialistic perspective believing that bodily continuity or physicality is what makes a person a person with the view that even mental things are caused by some kind of physical occurrence. Others take a more idealist approach with the belief that mental continuity is the sole factor in establishing personal identity holding that physical things are just reflections of the mind. One more perspective on personal identity and the one I will attempt to explain and defend in this paper is that personal identity requires both physical and psychological continuity; my argument is as follows:
What is identity? Identity is an unbound formation which is created by racial construction and gender construction within an individual’s society even though it is often seen as a controlled piece of oneself. In Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s piece, “The Complexity of Identity: ‘Who Am I?’, Tatum asserts that identity is formed by “individual characteristics, family dynamics, historical factors, and social and political contexts” (Tatum 105). Tatum’s piece, “The Complexity of Identity: ‘Who Am I?’” creates a better understanding of how major obstacles such as racism and sexism shape our self identity.
The concept of identity and social locations according to Kirk & Okazawa-Rey's Identities and Social Locations: Who Am I? Who are My People? is that Our identity is a specific marker of how we define ourselves at any particular moment in life. Identity formation is the result of a complex interplay among individual decisions and choices, particular life events, community recognition and expectations, and social categorization, classification, and socialization. (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey). The point where all the features embodied in a person overlap is called social location. Social location is a way of expressing the core of a person’s existence in the social and political world. (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey). With identity, it may seem tangible and fixed at any given
In my own research I have come to believe that in the consumer and media societies, identity has been increasingly linked to style, to producing an image, to how one looks. To have an identity people must develop their own look, style and image.
In today’s society, there has been a greater emphasis on identity than in the past. The perception of identity has changed due to the growing human population, and being able to distinguish oneself from the general population. Identity is the uniqueness of a person. As people get older, their identity might change since they become more aware of the society and also are more independent. By creating and recognizing an identity, one can interact with others who have a similar identity. Identity can be formed socially. There are several factors that influence an identity.
Social identity theory proposed by Henri Tajfel and later developed by Tajfel and Turner in 1971. The theory is to understand intergroup relations and group processes. Social identity theory suggests that the self-concept is based on knowledge of our membership to one or more social groups; people enhance their self-esteem, which can also be boosted by personal achievement and affiliation with successful groups, in attempt to improve their self-image, which is based on personal identity or various social identities.
The fifth stage, according to Erik Erikson psychoanalytic theory of development is the Identity Vs Identity confusion. The stage occurs during adolescence in the ages between 12 to 18 years. At this stage, the adolescents try to find a sense of personal and self-identity by intensely exploring their personal goals, beliefs, and values (McLeod, 2017). Notably, the adolescence is between childhood and adulthood. Thus, their mind is between the morality learned during childhood and the ethics they are trying to develop into adulthood. The transitioning from childhood to adulthood is the most important development for a person because the individual is becoming independent and is focusing on the future regarding career, relationships, families
A person can be physically identifiable based on the matter they are composed of but their Personal Identity is far more than that. Despite any changes such as mentality and physical change, referred to as qualitatively changes, a person remains who they are. The philosophical question is, What it is to have a personal Identity? There are different theories discussing what is necessary and sufficient to define an individual's personal identity. So is there any theory that has truly capture the essence of what it is like to have a personal identity?