The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Nadja Sörgärde . Photo

Nadja Sörgärde

Senior lecturer

Nadja Sörgärde . Photo

Story-dismantling, story-meandering, and story-confirming : Organizational identity work in times of public disgrace

Author

  • Nadja Sörgärde

Summary, in English

This study aims to enhance our understanding of organizational identity work (OIW), building upon previous studies’ emphasis on the usefulness of understanding OIW in terms of storytelling. The paper offers an extended vocabulary for making sense of alternative narration forms. Based on an in-depth study of a humanitarian organization in Sweden, the discursive OIW struggles of employees in times of public disgrace are explored and the following conceptualizations suggested: a) Story-dismantling (attempting to deconstruct a dominant discrediting narrative). b) Story-meandering (attempting to tell a coherent counter-story but without success). c) Story-confirming (claiming that a dominant historical narrative remains valid). These concepts open up and invite considerations of uncertainty, fragmentation, fluidity, and contextuality in future studies of both organizational identity (OI) and OIW.

Department/s

  • Organizational Studies

Publishing year

2020

Language

English

Publication/Series

Scandinavian Journal of Management

Volume

36

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Business Administration

Keywords

  • Disgrace
  • Humanitarian organization
  • Narrative perspective
  • Organizational identity
  • Organizational identity work
  • Storytelling

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0956-5221