Charting new waters: navigating identity shifts during cross domain transition
Richa Chaturvedi & Ranjeet Nambudiri
Abstract
Individuals who are closely affiliated with total institutions often have their personal identities intertwined with the institutional logics of the institution. When these individuals transition from these institutions, they carry the logics of their past affiliations with them. This study aims to explore the boundaries that individuals cross during career transitions from a total institution such as the military. Qualitative research was conducted with a sample of twenty-five Indian Navy officers to understand the identity transformation process that veterans undergo to adapt to civilian careers. Semi-structured interviews were used to gain insights into the experiences that veterans face when transitioning to non-military work environments. Navigating these institutional boundaries requires the individual to either identify with or adopt the logics of the new setting. The study found that this transition occurs on a spectrum, ranging from active identification with the new logics to complete resistance to adopting the new institutional logic. Based on their position on the spectrum, the participants were categorized into three archetypes: Achievers, Jugglers, and Defenders.
Evidence weight
Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40
| F · citation impact | 0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20 |
| M · momentum | 0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07 |
| V · venue signal | 0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03 |
| R · text relevance † | 0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20 |
† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.