La construction identitaire en situation : Le cas de managers à l'épreuve de la détresse de leurs collaborateurs

Previous work about identity construction in management studies has focused on a stable individual identity that only evolves with major events. Conversely, this research aims to explore a more situated identity construction in front of day-to-day working activities. We borrow Danilo Martuccelli’s concept of trial in order to operationalize what a situation is. Through a multiple qualitative case study, we analyse 29 narratives of managers’ trial of their subordinates’ distress. These data were collected through 45 semi-structured interviews with managers and several days of observation inside one organization. Our analysis emcompasses the in-depth presentation of four cases and a global comparative analysis of the 29 narratives. Our findings are composed of the identification of three main dynamics of identity construction. Finally, we offer an integrative processual representation of identity construction during work situations. We show that the underlying stability of identity is better conceived as the result of an ongoing process of identity (re)construction.