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Building Character: The Formation of a Hybrid Organizational Identity in a Social Enterprise

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  • Joep P. Cornelissen
  • Ona Akemu
  • Jeroen G. F. Jonkman
  • Mirjam D. Werner

Abstract

The formation of a hybrid organizational identity is a significant challenge for many social enterprises. Drawing on in‐depth longitudinal data from the first three years of a successful social enterprise – Fairphone, founded in Amsterdam – we induce an empirically grounded theoretical model of how a hybrid organizational identity is formed. We identify a general process of organizational identity formation, with founders, leaders and members experimenting with different organizational characters describing ‘who they are’ as well as with alternative social impact strategies defining ‘what they do’. As part of this experimental process, we elaborate the role of a key leadership process – ‘rekeying’, which involves leaders re‐figuring prior understandings into more dual readings – which we found facilitates ongoing adaptation and helps members of the organization to become progressively better able at combining multiple objectives and values as part of a shared hybrid identity. Our theoretical model of hybrid organizational identity formation has a number of direct implications for ongoing research on organizational identity formation and hybrid organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Joep P. Cornelissen & Ona Akemu & Jeroen G. F. Jonkman & Mirjam D. Werner, 2021. "Building Character: The Formation of a Hybrid Organizational Identity in a Social Enterprise," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(5), pages 1294-1330, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:58:y:2021:i:5:p:1294-1330
    DOI: 10.1111/joms.12640
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeffery S. McMullen & Benjamin J. Warnick, 2016. "Should We Require Every New Venture to Be a Hybrid Organization?," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(4), pages 630-662, June.
    2. Ona Akemu & Gail Whiteman & Steve Kennedy, 2016. "Social Enterprise Emergence from Social Movement Activism: The Fairphone Case," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(5), pages 846-877, July.
    3. Israel Drori & Benson Honig & Zachary Sheaffer, 2009. "The Life Cycle of an Internet Firm: Scripts, Legitimacy, and Identity," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(3), pages 715-738, May.
    4. Todd W. Moss & Jeremy C. Short & G. Tyge Payne & G.T. Lumpkin, 2011. "Dual Identities in Social Ventures: An Exploratory Study," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(4), pages 805-830, July.
    5. Paul Tracey & Nelson Phillips & Owen Jarvis, 2011. "Bridging Institutional Entrepreneurship and the Creation of New Organizational Forms: A Multilevel Model," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(1), pages 60-80, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Simona Fiandrino & Francesco Scarpa & Riccardo Torelli, 2022. "Fostering Social Impact Through Corporate Implementation of the SDGs: Transformative Mechanisms Towards Interconnectedness and Inclusiveness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 959-973, November.
    2. Peter Kalum Schou, 2023. "Coming Apart While Scaling Up – Adoption of Logics and the Fragmentation of Organizational Identity in Science‐Based Ventures," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 688-721, May.
    3. Teresa Dieguez & Paula Loureiro & Sulaiman Isabel Ferreira & Mário Basto, 2024. "Transformative Forces: Social Entrepreneurship as Key Competency," International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development, Inovatus Services Ltd., vol. 10(1), pages 23-33, April.
    4. Seokwon Chang & Mugoan Jeong, 2021. "Does Leadership Matter in Performance of Social Enterprises in South Korea?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Fabien Martinez, 2023. "Exploring the syncretic dynamics involved in dyadic business–NGO partnerships," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4068-4083, November.
    6. Lamberto Zollo & Massimiliano M. Pellegrini & Gugliemo Faldetta & Riccardo Rialti, 2023. "How to combine multiple identities and gaining stakeholders legitimacy in hybrid organizations? An organizational design response," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(4), pages 1189-1222, December.
    7. John W. Schouten & Beth Leavenworth DuFault, 2022. "Social Enterprise as a Broker of Identity Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    8. Siqueira, Erica H.S. & Fischer, Bruno Brandão & Bin, Adriana & Kickul, Jill, 2023. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems’ readiness towards knowledge-intensive sustainable entrepreneurship: Evidence from Brazil," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    9. Rosaria Ferlito & Rosario Faraci, 2022. "Sustainable Hybrid Business Model of Benefit Corporation: The Case of an Italian Film Production Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.

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