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
Our lives are defined by our experiences of growing up and of who people are when people are developing. Both, in their respective regards, are something that can be difficult to alter to the individual. Gender, race, classes, and other building blocks of our identity are always shifting to who anyone is and while a person can’t affect themselves, society can, and often does change their perspective towards their own identity and how they interact with the stimulation outside of their psyche.
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
... M. & Terry, D. (2000). Social identity and self-categorization processes in organizational contexts. Academy of Management Review, 25, 121-140.
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.
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:
Social institutions, like educational and religious groups, enhance rule obedience and contribute to the formation of identity and sense of belonging to certain groups. People possess a set of beliefs that condition their everyday behavior, like one can think that education is the most important four our future, while other people might believe that staying at home and raising their children is their reality. However, our beliefs are influenced by the groups that we interact. For instance, if we join a feminist movement, we might start reflecting a positive attitude towards gender equality. This illustrates how our social interaction can influence or beliefs related to race, and gender. Similarly, religious institutions and
Zora Neal Hurston’s book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, reveals one of life’s most relevant purposes that stretches across cultures and relates to every aspect of enlightenment. The novel examines the life of the strong-willed Janie Crawford, as she goes down the path of self-discovery by way of her past relationships. Ideas regarding the path of liberation date all the way back to the teachings of Siddhartha. Yet, its concept is still recycled in the twenty-first century, as it inspires all humanity to look beyond the “horizon,” as Janie explains. Self-identification, or self-fulfillment, is a theme that persists throughout the book, remaining a quest for Janie Crawford to discover, from the time she begins to tell the story to her best friend, Pheoby Watson. Hurston makes a point at the beginning of the novel to separate the male and female identities from one another. This is important for the reader to note. The theme for identity, as it relates to Janie, carefully unfolds as the story goes on to expand the depths of the female interior.
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.
Considering the notion that identity is formed during life by taking into account these experiences with oneself and others, this study deliberately looks into narratives as an important tool of identity construction. This is drawn from Holstein and Gubrium’s (2000, p. 3) proposition that “our lives are storied. Not only is there a story of the self, but it’s been said that the self, itself, is narratively constructed”. Our social self is constructed by the everyday technologies (both discursive practice and discourses-in-practice) through which the self is articulated, constructed, embodied, and mediated.
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
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.
Imagine a place of complete control of every action during any given day. This unattainable goal goes under the rug; however, this elusive place is attainable only in one 's mind. The dictating factor of all human actions lies within the emotion which derives from the inner depths of the sea. The sea monster which swims through the human body, leeching on to our brains and controlling them. Through the sea monster antagonizing fear into human`s consciousness, this brief attack dictates everyday actions. Fear, expressed from human responses to stressful stimulus activates the flight or fight response inside our brain. This triggers without our conscious awareness as this occurs as an automatic response. A human response in which requires no
Who am I? Wrestling with identity— our history, our culture, our language— is central to being human, and there’s no better way to come to grips with questions of identity than through the crossing of borders. The transcendence of borders reveals the fluid nature of identity, it challenges absurd notions of rigid nationalities, and highlights our common humanity. It is no coincidence, then, that my experience as an immigrant has shaped my academic journey and pushed me to pursue graduate studies.
Another interesting research that recent academicians have developed is that corporate identity refers to an organization’s unique characteristics which are rooted in the behaviour of the internal stakeholders i.e., the members of the organization. Many scholars thus opine that management of an organization’s identity is a strategic function and it requires a multidisciplinary approach. Also, senior managers can essentially narrow the gap between actual and desired identity through optimally utilizing the corporate identity mix (behaviour, symbolism and
The philosophical problem of personal identity pertains to questions that arise about ourselves by virtue of our being persons. There is no single question that will sum up the problem, but rather a multitude of questions that are loosely connected to each other. Within this essay, the four most prominent problems will be explained and addressed. One of the most familiar is the question of “Who am I?” This regards to what makes one a unique individual. Another familiar question is, “What is it to be a person?” This concerns the necessary criteria for something to count as a person as opposed to a non-person. There is also the problem of persistence, relating to personal identity over time. An example of this would be to glance upon an old photograph of a childhood class, point and say, “That's me.” The questions arises of, “What makes you that one instead of one of the others?” The last problem to be explained is the one of evidence. How do we find out who is who? There are two separate sources of evidence used often in philosophy: first-person memory, pertaining to one remembering an action or event and therefore being the person who did such, and physical continuity, where if the one who performed the action or witnessed the event looks like you, then it is you.