What we observe here is that, as the above
definitions imply, research into social identity
(primarily in the social psychological literature)
has tended to attend to internal, cognitive factors
in its focus on identity processes at the level of
individual group members within the organization.
On the other hand, research into corporate
identity (in the marketing and communications
literatures) has traditionally placed an emphasis
on external, symbolic factors in its focus on
identity products (i.e. material manifestations of
identity). Located between these traditions, research
on organizational identity has reflected a
concern with both the internal and external
aspects of identities, but has tended to address
the patterning of those meanings (e.g. their form
and content) and the way they are negotiated
within the dynamic interactions of organizational
life. These differences in emphasis can be
drawn out by considering the key developments,
insights and themes in each area of research in