Ashforth & Mael

Ashforth and Mael's theory explains how employees identify with their work and organization. They describe two types of organizational identification: personal, where individuals see their workplace as part of their identity, and social, where they relate to the organization through group memberships like teams or departments. This identification influences motivation, behavior, and commitment; strong identification can foster loyalty and engagement, while weak or negative identification might lead to disengagement. Their work helps us understand how people's connections to their organizations shape their attitudes and actions within the workplace.