Identification in organizations: An examination of four fundamental questions

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 identify 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.