Understanding organizational identity from ecological and interpretive perspectives: NGOs in contemporary China

Huijun Suo, Purdue University

Abstract

This research project advances understanding of organizational identity by creating an intersection between two (meta) theoretical lenses–an ecological lens and an interpretive lens. An interpretive lens sees organizational identity as socially and symbolically constructed, while an ecological lens positions an organization in its broader context consisting of inter-organizational relationships. By focusing on Chinese NGOs, a unique context where NGOs have to deliberately frame their organizational identity, this project asked: How do NGOs in China construct and utilize their organizational identity/identities in order to meet their organizational goals in a complex environment? To address this overarching research question, this project examined NGOs' organizational relationships with external parties, as well as how NGOs exploited guanxi to align themselves to external parties. In addition, this project probed the larger Discourses that influence NGOs' organizational selves and the ways in which NGOs achieved their goals. A mixed-method design was used in this study, including a close reading of organizational documents, interviews with NGO practitioners, and quantitative analysis of NGO partners and hyperlinks. Twenty-five Participants from 10 prominent grassroots NGOs participated in interviews, and network data of 106 grassroots NGOs were collected. Findings suggest that a) utilizing aspects of Discourses enables Chines NGOs to speak to diverse stakeholders for legitimacy, while constraining Chinese NGOs in expressing their unique organizational selves; b) NGOs in China highlighted certain aspects of their organizational selves that benefit outsiders, while downplaying other aspects of their organizational selves that conflict with outsiders; c) Chinese NGOs that partner with multiple or diverse external organizations tend to have multiple organizational identities, and d) guanxi enables Chinese NGOs to link cross-cutting political ties and like-minded people that connections otherwise might have been impossible. These findings shed light on the interplay between organizational identity, inter-organizational relationships, D/discourses, and guanxi.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Connaughton, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Communication|Organizational behavior

COinS