Corporate identity orientation and disorientation: A complexity theory perspective

Luke Devereux, T. C. Melewar, Keith Dinnie, Thomas Lange

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    22 Citations (Scopus)
    326 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The importance of corporate identity to organizations is increasing, which has led to the conceptualisation of corporate identity orientation. This paper challenges existing thinking by suggesting that if corporate identity orientation exists, so could corporate identity disorientation. Using a complexity theory perspective this conceptual paper explores how orientation/disorientation could emerge, and how the two could be related. The paper concludes that a combination of orientation and disorientation could be beneficial for corporate identity development, and that disorientation need not be wholly negative. This is relevant because the environment organizations find themselves in increasingly causes identity disorientation, so exploring this further helps address this crucial issue. As such, this paper opens new directions for researchers to look at corporate identity development, and also for practitioners to embrace elements of disorientation and how it may help unlock new opportunities.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)413-424
    Number of pages12
    JournalJournal of Business Research
    Volume109
    Early online date27 Dec 2019
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2020

    Keywords

    • Complexity theory
    • Corporate identity
    • Corporate identity disorientation
    • Corporate identity orientation
    • Strategic orientation

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Marketing

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Corporate identity orientation and disorientation: A complexity theory perspective'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this