Identity embarrassment and identity defense: The development of organizational identity of dispatched employees

Abstract

: [Objective] This paper explores identity problem and identity management of dispatched employees in the development process of dual organizational identity (complementary and dynamic). [Methods] Through two-stage interviews (consisting of a survey and an in-depth interview),this paper collected data from 34 dispatched employees in different industries. Three coders conducted open, axial and selective step-by-step coding analysis. [Results] The results indicate that “ Match-mismatch” of the comparison of expectations and experiences of dual organizational identity poses a psychological dilemma called identity embarrassment (identity problem) for dispatched employees. Subsequently, four identity defense strategies are adopted to deal with identity embarrassment.