TY - JOUR
T1 - Identification in organizations
T2 - An examination of four fundamental questions
AU - Ashforth, Blake
AU - Harrison, Spencer H.
AU - Corley, Kevin
PY - 2008/6
Y1 - 2008/6
N2 - The literature on identification in organizations is surprisingly diverse and large. This article reviews the literature in terms of four fundamental questions. First, under "What is identification?," it outlines a continuum from narrow to broad formulations and differentiates situated identification from deep identification and organizational identification from organizational commitment. Second, in answer to "Why does identification matter?," it discusses individual and organizational outcomes as well as several links to mainstream organizational behavior topics. Third, regarding "How does identification occur?," it describes a process model that involves cycles of sensebreaking and sensegiving, enacting identity and sensemaking, and constructing identity narratives. Finally, under "One or many?," it discusses team, workgroup, and subunit; relational; occupational and career identifications; and how multiple identifications may conflict, converge, and combine.
AB - The literature on identification in organizations is surprisingly diverse and large. This article reviews the literature in terms of four fundamental questions. First, under "What is identification?," it outlines a continuum from narrow to broad formulations and differentiates situated identification from deep identification and organizational identification from organizational commitment. Second, in answer to "Why does identification matter?," it discusses individual and organizational outcomes as well as several links to mainstream organizational behavior topics. Third, regarding "How does identification occur?," it describes a process model that involves cycles of sensebreaking and sensegiving, enacting identity and sensemaking, and constructing identity narratives. Finally, under "One or many?," it discusses team, workgroup, and subunit; relational; occupational and career identifications; and how multiple identifications may conflict, converge, and combine.
KW - Commitment
KW - Identification
KW - Identity
KW - Narratives
KW - Sensemaking
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=43049114983&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=43049114983&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0149206308316059
DO - 10.1177/0149206308316059
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:43049114983
SN - 0149-2063
VL - 34
SP - 325
EP - 374
JO - Journal of Management
JF - Journal of Management
IS - 3
ER -