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The Development of Corporate Identity: A Political Perspective

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  • Suzana Rodrigues
  • John Child

Abstract

abstract A corporate identity denotes a set of attributes that senior managers ascribe to their organization. It is therefore an organizational identity articulated by a powerful interest group. It can constitute a claim which serves inter alia to justify the authority vested in top managers and to further their interests. The academic literature on organizational identity, and on corporate identity in particular, pays little attention to these political considerations. It focuses in an apolitical manner on shared meanings when corporate identity works, or on cognitive dissonance when it breaks down. In response to this analytical void, we develop a political analysis of corporate identity and its development, using as illustration a longitudinal study of successive changes in the corporate identity of a Brazilian telecommunications company. This suggests a cyclical model in which corporate identity definition and redefinition involve power relations, resource mobilization and struggles for legitimacy.

Suggested Citation

  • Suzana Rodrigues & John Child, 2008. "The Development of Corporate Identity: A Political Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 885-911, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:45:y:2008:i:5:p:885-911
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2007.00750.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Leonhard Dobusch & Dennis Schoeneborn, 2015. "Fluidity, Identity, and Organizationality: The Communicative Constitution of Anonymous," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(8), pages 1005-1035, December.
    2. Gupta, Suraksha & Kumar, V., 2013. "Sustainability as corporate culture of a brand for superior performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 311-320.
    3. Sonia S. Siraz & Björn Claes & Julio O. De Castro & Eero Vaara, 2023. "Theorizing the Grey Area between Legitimacy and Illegitimacy," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(4), pages 924-962, June.
    4. Rodrigues, S.B., 2010. "Towards a New Agenda for the Study of Business Internationalization: Integrating Markets, Institutions and Politics," ERIM Inaugural Address Series Research in Management EIA-2010-043-STR, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam..
    5. Grahame R. Dowling & Tayo Otubanjo, 2011. "Corporate and organizational identity: two sides of the same coin," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 1(3), pages 171-182, December.
    6. Kreutzer, Karin & Rueede, Dominik, 2019. "Organizational identity consistency in a discontinuous corporate volunteering program," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 455-467.
    7. Russell Abratt & Michela Mingione, 2017. "Corporate identity, strategy and change," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(2), pages 129-139, March.
    8. Jipeng Qi & Xiangfei Fu & Jie Li & Jigang Xie, 2020. "The co-evolution of institutions and stakeholders in creating new industries," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 1085-1118, December.
    9. Mooweon Rhee, 2009. "Does Reputation Contribute to Reducing Organizational Errors? A Learning Approach," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(4), pages 676-703, June.
    10. Bouchikhi, Hamid & Kimberly, John R., 2014. "Micro Processes and Isomorphic Adaptation: Insights from the Struggle for the Soul of Economics at the University of the Holy Spirit," ESSEC Working Papers WP1409, ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School.
    11. Verdu-Jover, Antonio J. & Alos-Simo, Lirios & Gomez-Gras, Jose-Maria, 2018. "Adaptive culture and product/service innovation outcomes," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 330-340.
    12. repec:hal:journl:hal-00993435 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Hamid Bouchikhi & John R. Kimberly, 2014. "Micro Processes and Isomorphic Adaptation: Insights from the Struggle for the Soul of Economics at the University of the Holy Spirit," Working Papers hal-00993435, HAL.

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