Scandinavian Journal of Management (2010) 26, 104—105
a v a i l a b l e a t w w w. s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m
j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : h tt p : / / w w w. e l s e v i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / s c a m a n
Call for Papers
Special Issue on Identities in Organizations: processes
and outcomes
Submission Deadline 17th December 2010
Guest editors:
Christine Coupland
University of Nottingham, UK
Andrew D. Brown
University of Bath, UK
Considerable critical attention has focused on how identities implicate multiple levels of analysis. Contributions may draw
are best conceived and researched, the discursive resources on, (but are not limited to), any relevant form of discourse
that are drawn on in identity construction, and how identities analysis, ethnomethodology, ethnography, anthropology
are implicated in relations of power. Less attention has been or critical perspectives. We welcome both conceptual and
paid to how identities are involved in processes of organizing, empirically based studies, but suspect that interpretive
are fundamental to the routine activities that characterize methods which best permit the detailed scrutiny of both
much organizational life, and central to the objectives that micro and macro processes and interactions are more like-
organizations (at least notionally) pursue. Valuable ground- ly to meet the aims of the special issue. Central to our
work has been accomplished which has established ‘identity’ concerns are papers that illustrate and analyze how and
as an important concept in organization studies, particularly why identity issues are key to practices and to theorizing
as a bridging notion between levels of analysis (individual, of organizing. Some indicative (not exclusive) issues and
group and organization) and between the competing questions that may reasonably be addressed by submissions
dynamics of agency and structure. For identity studies to include:
have an illustrious future, however, there is, perhaps, a need
to concentrate less on identity per se, and to instead expand • How can theories of organizing be enhanced through
our understanding of how identities are tied to organiza- theorizing identities and vice versa?
tional processes and specific outcomes. For example, how • What and how can understanding be gained through an
are people’s identities engaged in, reproduced and altered examination of identity regulation and its oppositions?
by their participation in their work, organizational routines • What difference does identity make for the work that
and political activities? There is a need to guard against the people do?
possible ‘ghetto-ization’ of identity research in organization • In what circumstances can organized contexts be sites
studies, tendencies to draw sharp boundaries between what of heightened anxiety and insecurity around identity
is and what is not identity research, and to concentrate on construction?
identity rather than identities in practice. This is the remit • How are explorations of aspirational identities related to
of our special issue. the temporal location of identity work? What implications
may this have for future-oriented-organizing?
We invite submissions which consider how identity issues • Is identity an enabling concept that helps bridge between
are caught up in processes of organizing, whether in mun- individual, group and organization levels of analysis, and
dane or unusual circumstances and settings, and within or if so, how does this insight assist scholars in their efforts
between organizational boundaries and networks. While to theorize processes of organizing?
our primary interest is in people’s identities rather than the • How do historical, cultural, institutional and political
identities of collectivities - such as groups and organizations processes emerge, influence, enact and constrain identity
- we appreciate that in many instances empirical studies will work in organizational settings?
doi:10.1016/[Link].2010.01.001
Call for Papers 105
• To what extent is an appreciation of identities-activity [Link]@[Link] or [Link]@bath.
fundamental to understanding routine and extraordinary [Link].
organizing practices?
• What are the implications of utilising an identities- About the guest editors:
in-organization framework for theory, research and Christine Coupland is Associate Professor at Nottingham
practice? University Business School. She has published in Journal
of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Human
Submission Guidelines and Important Dates: Relations, Organization, Journal of Business Ethics,
Journal of Vocational Behaviour and Critical Perspec-
The deadline for submissions is 17th December 2010 tives on Accounting. Christine is on the editorial board of
and should be submitted via the journal’s online submission Organization Studies and is an Associate Editor for the
system available through the journal homepage http:// Scandinavian Journal of Management. E-mail: Christine.
[Link]/locate/scaman or directly via http:// Coupland@[Link].
[Link]/sjm/ - choosing "Special Issue: Identities
Andrew D. Brown is Professor of Organization Studies
in Orgs" as the paper type.
at the School of Management, University of Bath. He has
published in Academy of Management Review, Journal
Before submission, please consult the journal guidelines for of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Human
authors at: Relations, Organization, Journal of Applied Behavioral
[Link] Science, and British Journal of Management. Andrew is a
cws_home/872/authorinstructions co-editor of Organization Studies, and an editorial board
member of five other journals including Journal of Manage-
Additional information can be obtained from either of the ment Studies, Human Relations, and Group & Organization
guest editors: Management. E-Mail: [Link]@[Link].