
Mats Alvesson
Professor

Self-doubters, strugglers, storytellers, surfers and others: Images of self-identities in organization studies
Author
Summary, in English
This article provides an overview of the key images of identity in organizations found in the research literature. Image refers to the overall idea or conceptualization, capturing how researchers relate to - and shape - a phenomenon. Seven images are suggested: self-doubters, strugglers, surfers, storytellers, strategists, stencils and soldiers. These refer to how the individual is metaphorically understood in terms of identity, that is, how the researcher (research text) captures the individual producing a sense of self. The article aims to facilitate orientation - or encourage productive confusion - within the field, encourage reflexivity and sharpen analytic choices through awareness of options for how to conceptualize self-identity constructions.
Department/s
- Department of Business Administration
Publishing year
2010
Language
English
Pages
193-217
Publication/Series
Human Relations
Volume
63
Issue
2
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Topic
- Business Administration
Keywords
- organizational psychology
- self
- identity
- construction
- discourse
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0018-7267