Outline

1
Outline

• Approaches to Identity
• Research Questions
• Presentation of 3 Case Studies
• Analysis via Research Questions
• Overall Conclusion

2
Approaches to Identity

• Essential self - Personal identity ( Bruner,
  1990, Baumeister, 1998)
• Social environment school (Ashfort and Mael,
  1989)
• Dialogical self (Bakhtin,1928 , Goffman, 1959)
• the self as reflexively understood by the
  person in terms of his/her biography Giddens
  (1991)

3
Research Questions

• How are globalization processes implicated in
  shifting identity in the workplace?
• What is the role of information and communication
  technologies in these processes?
• How is identity linked to the knowledge and
  shifting power-knowledge relations?

4
Comco (UK) (Hayes Walsham 1999)

• Hardware Engineers ? Agent from office-based to
  home-based
• Dispatch System Traveller
• 3 narratives
• Issues
• nature of their job
• customer relation? own business?
• own identity
• before Comco
• home and personal life
• work identity
• current attitudes
• Role of IT
• limited technology workarounds, e-mail

5
US CO (Schultze Boland 1997)

• 3 computer system administrators consulting
  company to manufacturing company
• Issues
• Objectivity
• precarious position
• CONSULTANTS vs CONTRACTORS
• third level support high value
• they are working on a technical platform, not
  with the messy world of end-users
• producing written documentation to protect
• Placelessness
• working in different locations
• Try to keep knowledge mobile
• Struggle for identity
• Logical clean mental activity vs physical local
  specialised work

6
GIS in India (Sahay Walsham 1999)

• Technical work of scientists / intended users
  district level administrators
• Aim explore potential of GIS technology in
  wasteland development
• Representation of Space
• India is not a map based culture
• Indians view space as in-here, subjective and
  inherent to the person
• No need to dominate nature
• Compartmentalization of role and activity
• Identity is not static!
•   

7
1.How are globalization processes implicated in
shifting identity at the workplace?

• Impact on Shifting Identity
• Reflexive modernity ? trajectory of the self
• Alas, homogenization of identity!
• Individualised conceptions of self and social
  relations
• Homogenity of common striving for individualised
  identity!
• Individuals are impacted in different ways
• Organisations must consider personal issues as
  they enter professional life!

• Manifestation of globalization
• processes
• Homogenization/standardization/ commodification
  of work across the world
• Spread of Western oriented information
  technologies
• Glocalization local appropriation of global
  aspects

8
2. What is the role of information and
communication technologies in these processes?

• Macro and micro level support for Castells
  thesis and Latours ANT
• Studies on new information systems and identities
  in professional groups
• Need for more research!

9
3. How is identity linked to knowledge and
shifting power-knowledge relations?

• IT as a way of encouraging self-discipline
  conformance by organizations (e.g. Traveller
  system)
• Responses of individuals to power-knowledge
  equations differ issues of resistance and
  acceptance
• Global technology transfer organizational
  change must consider local factors

10
Conclusion

• Both Micro AND Macro approaches required!