Organisations and the issue of multiple identities: who loves you baby?

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between organisational identification and identification with work group and profession for knowledge workers. The literature points to two competing standpoints, first, a compatible relationship between focal points of identity and second, a trade off relationship whereby an increase in one is at the expense of another.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the population of a large public UK sector organisation ordinary least squares regression was used to examine these relationships.

Findings

The findings established a strong relationship in which work group, organisational and professional identification were compatible.

Research limitations/implications

The findings indicate, at least in this context, that no inherent trade off or problem reconciling multiple identities was evident. Regrettably the authors do not have the capacity to comment on the weighting or the relative importance placed on each focus of identity; this is an area for future research.

Originality/value

This paper seeks to contribute to the discussions of is the relationship between organisational identification and allegiances with the workgroup or profession, which is underdeveloped in the literature.

Citation

Pate, J., Beaumont, P. and Pryce, G. (2009), "Organisations and the issue of multiple identities: who loves you baby?", VINE, Vol. 39 No. 4, pp. 319-338. https://doi.org/10.1108/03055720911013625