WHO AM I? - A qualitative study on high-skilled IT-consultants’ identity work in a triangular relationship with employer and client

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to increase the understanding of how high-skilled IT-consultants are involved in identity work when being in a triangular relationship with an employing firm and a client firm, but also how temporary agency work in this context differs from previous research on the topic. The study also aims to identify factors that impact the direction of IT-consultants’ identity. Theory: Social identity theory as well as the concepts of identity and identity work have been used to elaborate and analyse the empirical findings. Moreover, research on the triangular relationship was used to support the study. Method: The study’s approach is based on a qualitative research design, and 14 semi-structured qualitative interviews have been conducted with IT-consultants at a Swedish consulting company. A thematic analysis method has been used to analyse the empirical data. Result: High-skilled IT-consultants differ from low-skilled temporary agency workers in terms of status and there are different reasons behind the pressure to perform. Thus, the study empirically provides knowledge of identity work in a context where the employee possesses greater power. The result showed that IT-consultants use sensemaking to understand the context and how to behave in it, and attachment is increased or decreased through the four modes of identity work. Moreover, the consultant role implies a need for identity work, and factors impacting the direction are professional seniority, liminality and ambiguity, assignment and work tasks, challenging situations, and gaps between present and future. Other motives are to establish a valued identity, both internally and externally.