Professional Identity Crisis: Balancing the Internal and External Perception of Professional Image

by Andrea Tomo

Overview

In a professional world that is quickly transforming and becoming increasingly volatile and uncertain, the nature of professional identity is complex and dynamic. The current literature has overlooked many issues concerning how professionals react and behave in the face of threats to their identity and image and there is a lack of a systemic analysis of the phenomenon of professional identity crisis.
This book contends that a full comprehension of the dynamics taking place is now paramount from the individual perspective and provides a new theoretical and practical approach to the analysis and interpretation of these issues. Providing a novel understanding, the book delivers an empirical case to explore professionals' reactions in a context characterised by a sharp de-professionalisation pattern and ever-expanding regulation, uncertainty, and external pressures, which constrain and mould accountants' professional boundaries and activities.
This book will prove a useful read to researchers across organisation studies, as well as interested professionals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781787698086
Publisher:	Emerald Publishing Limited
Publication date:	07/08/2019
Series:	Emerald Points
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	5.08(w) x 7.80(h) x (d)

About the Author

Andrea Tomo is Assistant Professor of Organisation Studies at the Department of Economics, Management, Institutions of the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, where he also teaches Negotiation in Complex Organisations and Organisational Behaviour.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Professional Identity: Features and Implications  
Chapter 2. Professionals and Identity Crisis: A Flexibility Matter? 
Chapter 3. Professionals Attempts to Manage Uncertainties and De-Professionalization: The Case of Italian Accountants

Editorial Reviews

The author examines the reasons behind the crisis of professional identity occurring at the individual level from a behavioral perspective, as well as possible strategies and behaviors for professionals to cope with them. She considers the multifaceted aspects concerning professional identity as a complex phenomenon and the threats and struggles related to it, as well as consequences in terms of coping strategies and behaviors and their effects on professional identity; the reasons behind the identity crisis, particularly deprofessionalization, precariousness, and the proletarianization of professions, as well as the importance of flexibility; and how professionals respond to uncertainties, drawing on the case of Italian accountants.

Annotation ©2019

The author examines the reasons behind the crisis of professional identity occurring at the individual level from a behavioral perspective, as well as possible strategies and behaviors for professionals to cope with them. She considers the multifaceted aspects concerning professional identity as a complex phenomenon and the threats and struggles related to it, as well as consequences in terms of coping strategies and behaviors and their effects on professional identity; the reasons behind the identity crisis, particularly deprofessionalization, precariousness, and the proletarianization of professions, as well as the importance of flexibility; and how professionals respond to uncertainties, drawing on the case of Italian accountants.

Annotation ©2019