Identity conflicts at work: An integrative framework

Abstract

This review examines workplace identity conflicts, offering three primary contributions. First, it reconciles hitherto fragmented perspectives on identity conflicts to offer an integrative and cross-level perspective on identity conflicts at work. Second, it elucidates an important distinction between two types of identity conflicts, namely intra-unit and inter-unit conflicts, also outlining the different roots, moderators, and reconciliations of these conflict types. Third, it proposes an alternative perspective on identity conflicts as constructive forces for individual and organizational change, also stressing the importance of context and content in shaping identity conflict outcomes. Thus, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of identity conflicts in the workplace, clarifying the current state of the science and offering new directions for future research. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.