Employing identities in organizational ecology

This paper argues for greater attention to employment-based organizational identities in ecological theory and research. I define and explore three dimensions of particular relevance to labor market identities: sharpness/resonance, focus and authenticity. The paper offers some speculations regarding: (i) when labor market identities are most decisive for organizations; (ii) how product market and labor market identities interact; (iii) how employment-based organizational identities might be operationalized; and (iv) how greater attention to such identities would illuminate key issues in organizational ecology.