Original Research

Identity at work: Exploring strategies for Identity Work

Byron G. Adams, Anne Crafford
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology | Vol 38, No 1 | a904 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v38i1.904 | © 2012 Byron G. Adams, Anne Crafford | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 April 2010 | Published: 19 September 2012

About the author(s)

Byron G. Adams, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Anne Crafford, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Orientation: This study explored strategies for identity work that are central to the negotiation and regulation of employee work identity.

Research purpose: The main aim of this study was to explore employee narratives and identify the strategies available to them in the process of identity work, as they defined themselves at work.

Motivation for the study: As there is a scarcity of research on identity work in South Africa, this study wanted to advance knowledge about identity work and the strategies used for regulating and negotiating an identity at work by exploring these constructs in this context.

Research design, approach and method: A qualitative research process formed the basis for this study. Nineteen employees from a global manufacturing company participated in two semi-structured in-depth interviews. Grounded theory was applied to analyse and interpret the data.

Main findings: Nine strategies for identity work were identified and categorised into four broad themes (personal philosophies; relationships; career management and negotiating balance).

Practical/managerial implications: Employees followed various strategies for defining themselves at work and this may have some implications for employee work engagement and productivity.

Contribution/value-add: This study expands on current theoretical knowledge of identity work, and provides insights into the strategies people use to regulate and negotiate their identities at work.

 


Keywords

Identity; identity work; identity regulation; identity negotiation; strategies; South African perspective

Metrics

Total abstract views: 9399
Total article views: 29305

 

Crossref Citations

1. Recreational cannabis use and identity formation: a collective memory work study
Maya Lavie-Ajayi, Amalia Ziv, Halleli Pinson, Haggai Ram, Nir Avieli, Eran Zur, Eran Tzur, Galit Nimrod
World Leisure Journal  vol: 64  issue: 4  first page: 325  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1080/16078055.2022.2043428

2. Crowdworkers, social affirmation and work identity: Rethinking dominant assumptions of crowdwork
Ayomikun Idowu, Amany Elbanna
Information and Organization  vol: 31  issue: 4  first page: 100335  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2021.100335

3. They treat me like I am not a person: Contextualising identity work amongst domestic workers
Anne Crafford, Bronwyn Menne-Jooste
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 23  year: 2025  
doi: 10.4102/SAJHRM.v23i0.3167

4. “At your age?”; Advant-aged women (re)construct their self-identity through spoken word poetry to challenge self-ageism
Noa Levy, Liat Ayalon
Journal of Gender Studies  vol: 35  issue: 1  first page: 1  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1080/09589236.2024.2428409

5. Strategies for resolving relational dilemmas while developing therapists' professional identity
Galy Binyamin
Advances in Health Sciences Education  vol: 26  issue: 3  first page: 827  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1007/s10459-020-10024-9

6. The work role identity in flux of professional staff in a VUCA environment
Bernadette Kruger, Nicolene Barkhuizen
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology  vol: 50  year: 2024  
doi: 10.4102/SAJIP.v50i0.2181

7. High-skilled newcomers’ identity: learners or experts?
Gunn Elisabeth Søreide
Journal of Workplace Learning  vol: 28  issue: 1  first page: 2  year: 2016  
doi: 10.1108/JWL-12-2014-0088

8. Identity work of public hospital nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
Nosipho M. Maseko, Roslyn T. De Braine
Curationis  vol: 47  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.4102/CURATIONIS.v47i1.2506

9. Work Identity, Meaning and Meaningfulness of Work: Brazilian Women Immigrants in the USA
Silvana Campos, Sônia Maria Guedes Gondim, Lígia Carolina Oliveira-Silva, Yuri Sá Oliveira Sousa
Quaderns de Psicologia  vol: 27  issue: 2  first page: e2158  year: 2025  
doi: 10.5565/rev/qpsicologia.2158

10. Identity Collision: Older Gay Men Using Technology
Avi Marciano, Galit Nimrod
Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication  vol: 26  issue: 1  first page: 22  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1093/jcmc/zmaa016

11. Assessing cultural intelligence, personality and identity amongst young white Afrikaans-speaking students: A preliminary study
Natasha Nel, J. Alewyn Nel, Byron G. Adams, Leon T. De Beer
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 13  issue: 1  year: 2015  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v13i1.643

12. Put the rabbit to sleep and hide the suffering: Identity tensions and veterinarian well-being
Antoni Barnard, Liddy Janse van Rensburg
SA Journal of Industrial Psychology  vol: 51  year: 2025  
doi: 10.4102/sajip.v51i0.2242

13. Well-Being, More Than a Dream: Women Constructing Metaphors of Strength
Antoni Barnard
Frontiers in Psychology  vol: 9  year: 2018  
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01186