Organisational identification and professional image construction in a hybrid organisation

Abstract

This dissertation is based on three papers, which examine the challenges individuals face when belonging to a hybrid organisation. Hybrid organisations are characterised by their multiple, sometimes contradictory goals and by employees’ engagement in multiple sets of activities, not always consistent among each other. The first paper investigates the factors that determine organisational members’ identification with their hybrid organisation. In particular, the study draws on institutional and self-affirmation theories, and shows that being committed to only one of the embedded logics (“purism”) threatens an individual’s identification with his or her hybrid organisation. We show that the negative effect of purism is mitigated by individual perception of a low degree of organisational hybridity and perception of compatibility among the logics present. The second and third papers investigate the issues confronting individuals in their construction of a public professional image after they have been engaging in secondary activities alongside their professional duties. Engagement in such activities is often allowed – if not encouraged – in hybrid organisations. Specifically, the second paper explores the factors that result in a personal image that includes information on secondary activities. I find an inverted U-shaped relationship between an individual’s reputation within their professional domain and the likelihood of including information on secondary activities. This result is moderated by the normative awareness of the individual, either endogenous to them or exogenously encouraged. The third paper examines the framing used by individuals in the construction of a broad professional image. I find a U-shaped relationship between the individual’s reputation in their professional domain and the likelihood of framing information on secondary activities to address the interests of a secondary audience. This result is moderated by the strength of the secondary audience and its influence on the focal actors.