Organizational Identity

Abstract The objective of this chapter is to define and develop the concept of identity1 within an organizational setting, to consider what the term organizational identity might mean that is clear, distinctive, important, useful and measurable. Historically, identity has been treated as a loosely coupled set of ideas, distinctions, puzzles, and concepts that are best considered as a framework or point of view (Erickson, 1980, 1968; James, 1890; Mead, 1934). 7