Identity work in different entrepreneurial settings: dominant interpretive repertoires and divergent striving agendas

Stephen Knox,Lucrezia Casulli,Andrew Maclaren

doi:10.1080/08985626.2021.1890231

Stephen Knox, Lucrezia Casulli + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2021.1890231

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Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines how entrepreneurs within different settings reflect on social interactions to work on their identity. Using life story narratives, we explore a business membership network and a creative hub in the central belt of Scotland. Our subsequent model shows how individuals in these settings use different dominant interpretive repertoires, as represented by structural-instrumental work in the business network and relational work in the creative hub. We also show how the interpretive repertoires both shape and are shaped by what individuals strive for in their identity work: striving for esteem and striving for closeness. We discuss how our findings offer insight into the dynamics of social identities and how they are reproduced and maintained through situated exchange using specific interpretive repertoires and striving agendas.

Highlights

Entrepreneurial identity has been recognized as a key driver of priorities and behaviours (Leitch and Harrison 2016; Powell and Baker 2017)
We show the relevance of notions of imprinting to the microdynamics of identity work in different settings (e.g. Marquis and Tilcsik 2013; Mathias, Williams, and Smith 2015)
Our purpose in this study is to find out: how do individuals in different settings reflect on their social engagements to work on their entrepreneurial identity? We find that the identity work taking place is significantly different across the two social settings

Summary

Introduction

Entrepreneurial identity has been recognized as a key driver of priorities and behaviours (Leitch and Harrison 2016; Powell and Baker 2017). Whilst the role identity lens has focused on the individual as decoupled from the social environment, the social identity lens has delved into social influences on individuals’ identities This perspective views identity as aligned with membership to certain groups and associated identity prototypes (Fauchart and Gruber 2011; Powell and Baker 2017; Tajfel and Turner 1979). The work of Shepherd and Haynie (2009) sheds light on entrepreneurial grappling with the seemingly conflicting social needs for belonging and distinguishing oneself

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Discussion

Conclusion