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The bored self in knowledge work

Costas, Jana and Kärreman, Dan LU (2016) In Human Relations 69(1). p.61-83
Abstract

This article draws attention to reported experiences of boredom in knowledge work. Drawing on extensive qualitative data gathered at two management consultancy firms, we analyze these experiences as a particular interaction with identity regulation and work experiences. We conceptualize the reports of the bored self as a combination of unfilled aspirations and the sense of stagnation, leading to an arrested identity. Our contribution is to expand extant conceptualizations of employee interactions with identity regulation, in particular relating to identity work and identification. The findings provide a critical rendering of the glamourized image of knowledge work.

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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
boredom, identity regulation, identity work, knowledge work
in
Human Relations
volume
69
issue
1
pages
23 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:84953266745
ISSN
0018-7267
DOI
10.1177/0018726715579736
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
b627f37f-72f5-4d97-a8a7-b7bbc9600b43
date added to LUP
2016-08-30 14:00:37
date last changed
2022-03-24 01:02:03
@article{b627f37f-72f5-4d97-a8a7-b7bbc9600b43,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article draws attention to reported experiences of boredom in knowledge work. Drawing on extensive qualitative data gathered at two management consultancy firms, we analyze these experiences as a particular interaction with identity regulation and work experiences. We conceptualize the reports of the bored self as a combination of unfilled aspirations and the sense of stagnation, leading to an arrested identity. Our contribution is to expand extant conceptualizations of employee interactions with identity regulation, in particular relating to identity work and identification. The findings provide a critical rendering of the glamourized image of knowledge work.</p>}},
  author       = {{Costas, Jana and Kärreman, Dan}},
  issn         = {{0018-7267}},
  keywords     = {{boredom; identity regulation; identity work; knowledge work}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{61--83}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Human Relations}},
  title        = {{The bored self in knowledge work}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018726715579736}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0018726715579736}},
  volume       = {{69}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}