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Impact of coherent versus multiple identities on knowledge integration
Willem, Annick Scarbrough, Harry Buelens, Marc
Willem, Annick
Scarbrough, Harry
Buelens, Marc
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Publication Type
Working paper
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Supervisor
Publication Year
2007
Journal
Book
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
28
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Publication NUmber of pages
29
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Abstract
This paper addresses the influence of two competing views of social identity on knowledge integration within organizations. One view sees social identity primarily as a coherent characteristic of organisations, which can leverage knowledge integration by developing loyalty, trust, shared values and implicit norms (Kogut and Zander, 1996). The opposing view considers social identification as multiple and fragmented (Albert, Ashforth and Dutton, 2000; Alvesson, 2000). This fragmented view emphasises the problematic nature of social identity for knowledge integration. The aim of this paper is to examine these competing accounts and to develop insight under what conditions coherent respectively multiple social identities are advantageous for knowledge integration by the comparative analysis of two polar case studies. Our case studies reveal the different effects of a coherent versus multiple identity on knowledge integration and the need for a coherent company-wide social identity to leverage knowledge integration between organizational units.
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People Management & Leadership