Responding to Organizational Identity Threats: Exploring the Role of Organizational Culture

In this paper, we present a longitudinal study of organizational responses to environmental changes that induce members to question aspects of their organization's identity. Our findings highlight the role of organizational culture as a source of cues supporting "sensemaking" action c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Academy of Management journal 2006-06, Vol.49 (3), p.433-458
Main Authors: Ravasi, Davide, Schultz, Majken
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business management
Business organization
Corporate culture
Management science
Organization theory
Roles
Studies
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In this paper, we present a longitudinal study of organizational responses to environmental changes that induce members to question aspects of their organization's identity. Our findings highlight the role of organizational culture as a source of cues supporting "sensemaking" action carried out by leaders as they reevaluate their conceptualization of their organization, and as a platform for "sensegiving" action aimed at affecting internal perceptions. Building on evidence from our research, we develop a theoretical framework for understanding how the interplay of construed images and organizational culture shapes changes in institutional claims and shared understandings about the identity of an organization. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0001-4273
1948-0989
DOI:10.5465/amj.2006.21794663