This paper provides an overview of previous work that has explored issues of social,
organizational and corporate identity. Differences in the form and focus of research into
these three topics are noted. Social identity work generally examines issues of cognitive
process and structure; organizational identity research tends to address the patterning
of shared meanings; studies of corporate identity tend to focus on products that
communicate a specific image. Nonetheless, across these areas there is general
consensus that collective identities are (a) made viable by their positivity and
distinctiveness, (b) fluid, (c) a basis for shared perceptions and action, (d) strategically
created and managed, (e) qualitatively different from individual identities and (f) the
basis for material outcomes and products. This paper calls for greater cross-fertilization
of the three identity literatures and discusses r