The link between Institutional Logics and Identity Work: A Case study on the last two decades of the Italian Banking System

Semenzato, Francesco (2013) The link between Institutional Logics and Identity Work: A Case study on the last two decades of the Italian Banking System. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Institutional logics and Work Identities are two distinct theories both used in the field of organizational studies. Institutional logics looks in particular at relevant changes at the Macro level of a particular industry and at discontinuity events that a signal of the change in the dominant logic of the period. Work Identities, on the other hand look at the changes at the individual level, especially in relation to the perception of the self among the others in a particular historical and social context.

The two theories are generally treated separately, however a few studies in the literature tried to combine them to determine a link between changes in the macro-institutional level and in the micro-individual one.

The dissertation, wants to further experiment the latter view introducing a third level of analysis, the organizational level. The research question of the dissertation, in fact, aims to demonstrate that at a change in the institutional framework of a particular industry, corresponds a change in the organizational structure of the companies and a change in the individual level, in terms of the particular role’s identity.

In order to demonstrate the link between the three levels of analysis the dissertation explored the particular case of the Italian banking system, which is highly functional to the purposes of the dissertation due to the numerous changes occurred over the last two decades. To analyse the organizational level, the dissertation examined UniCredit Group, one of the most important Italian banks. Finally, to study the third level of analysis, the individual one, the dissertation examined the role of the director within UniCredit. 12 in-depth interviews have been conducted to analyse different aspects of the change at the individual level.

Overall the dissertation examined the major changes for each of the level of analysis presented and determined several links between them. At every change in the institution, UniCredit somehow reacted and modified its internal or external structure. As a consequence of the change within the bank, also the directors had to implement some forms of adaptation. Adapting often means altering the own perception of the role. Consequently a change in the Identity Work has been retrieved.

Item Type: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 07 Mar 2014 16:19
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2017 14:17
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/26713

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