Title: Creating the Management Climate for Compassion: Identity and related issues (#591)
Scheduled: Monday, Aug 9, 2010 8:00AM - 9:30AM at Le Palais de Congres, Room 521A
Organizers: Monika Hudson, University of San Francisco; Atira Cherise Charles, Florida State University; Shalei Simms, Ramapo College of New Jersey; Brenda Johnson, Cleveland State University
Invited Discussants/Roundtable Facilitators:
· Blake Ashforth, Arizona State University, blake.ashforth@asu.edu
· Stacy Blake-Beard, Simmons College, stacy.blakebeard@simmons.edu
· Alison Konrad, University of Western Ontario, akonrad@ivey.uwo.ca
· Laura Morgan Roberts, Antioch University, lroberts@antioch.edu
· Loriann Roberson, Columbia University, lroberson@exchange.tc.columbia.edu
· Marcus Stewart, Bentley University, mstewart@bentley.edu
Abstract/Caucus Design:
Due to recent changes in the economic environment, firms are experiencing increased pressure to manage productivity with a reduced workforce. These reductions bring to light many issues regarding identity in organizations. Many industries have seen social identity groups differentially affected by this downturn and in surprising ways. In addition, organizations are converting from ones where individuals work for collective aims with an associated "service ethic" into places where market discipline is the primary driver (Smith, 2002) and where care and compassion, the themes of this year's meeting, are not always apparent.
The goal of this caucus is to engage in an open discussion about the role identity plays in these management themes. We want to stimulate conversations among scholars and practitioners about the workplace implications of (1) emerging identity definitions, (2) identity impacts on interpersonal interactions and (3) the evolving relationship between identity and organizational practice. Prominent identity researchers will join participants in collaborative roundtable discussions that will outline research directions and strategies. Among the anticipated caucus outcomes are an electronic network linking emerging and established identity scholars, new research partnerships, and subsequent articles or a special journal topic issue.