Cross-functional Identity? The Impact of Scaled-agile Organizations’ Transformation Processes on Professional Role Identity

Creators: Finze, Nikola and Frey, Julian and Hund, Axel and Beimborn, Daniel and Gewald, Heiko
Title: Cross-functional Identity? The Impact of Scaled-agile Organizations’ Transformation Processes on Professional Role Identity
Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
Event Title: (Proceedings of the) Special Interest Group on Adoption and Diffusion of Information Technology (DIGIT) / Pre-ICIS Workshop
Event Location: Copenagen, Denmark
Event Dates: December 11, 2022
Projects: IDI
Date: 2022
Divisions: Informationsmanagement
Abstract (ENG): Within the ever-faster changing digitalized world, organizational work models constantly evolve towards increased agility to ensure innovation and competitive performance. Initially, agile methods were designed for small teams to develop software products. However, the focus has shifted towards combining and strategically expanding agile teams into scaled-agile organizations (SAOs). Traditionally, individuals’ role perception was highly dependent on hierarchical structures. However, when a new organizational model is implemented, hierarchical roles and structures change. To understand how the transformation into SAOs affects individuals’ professional role identity (PRI) and how they reconstruct their PRI in SAOs, we conduct a qualitative case study with employees holding various positions in SAOs. Our work contributes to the literature by providing insights into individuals’ opportunities and challenges within SAO transformation processes. Our preliminary findings indicate PRI changes from team-based to product-based PRIs as a reaction to the (novel) cross-functional SAO structure. However, if the transformation is involuntary we see inherent role conflicts, identity losses, and the occurrence of agile silos as employees try to retain their previous PRIs
Forthcoming: No
Language: English
Citation:

Finze, Nikola and Frey, Julian and Hund, Axel and Beimborn, Daniel and Gewald, Heiko (2022) Cross-functional Identity? The Impact of Scaled-agile Organizations’ Transformation Processes on Professional Role Identity. In: (Proceedings of the) Special Interest Group on Adoption and Diffusion of Information Technology (DIGIT) / Pre-ICIS Workshop, December 11, 2022, Copenagen, Denmark.

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