"It’s Kind of a Mystery Role”: Unpacking the Happiness Manager
(2023) BUSN49 20231Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- Purpose
The main purpose of this research is to get a deeper understanding on how individuals in the newfound position of Happiness Manager (HM) and related titles navigate their roles with limited prior understanding or guidance given by organizations. This study will investigate the different factors that influence their understanding of the role and how they construct and maintain their professional identities. One aspect that will be explored is how Happiness Managers navigate the tension between advocating for employee happiness while aligning with organizational goals and expectations.
Methodology
The study was done through the use of qualitative research techniques while following an interpretative perspective, inspired by... (More) - Purpose
The main purpose of this research is to get a deeper understanding on how individuals in the newfound position of Happiness Manager (HM) and related titles navigate their roles with limited prior understanding or guidance given by organizations. This study will investigate the different factors that influence their understanding of the role and how they construct and maintain their professional identities. One aspect that will be explored is how Happiness Managers navigate the tension between advocating for employee happiness while aligning with organizational goals and expectations.
Methodology
The study was done through the use of qualitative research techniques while following an interpretative perspective, inspired by grounded theory, and adopting an inductive research approach. We chose to conduct semi-structured interviews with Happiness Managers in order to get a deeper understanding of how they interpret and conduct their roles.
Theoretical perspective
The theoretical framework of this study discusses literature regarding identity work and its relation to role ambiguity, emotions and, fads and fashion, as well as the connection of happiness with organizational concepts. These concepts were approached in regard to the experiences lived by Happiness Manager in their roles. Previous research on job crafting (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001), image management (Goffman, 1959), and isomorphism (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983) assisted us in gaining a deeper understanding of how professionals define and enact their role in organizations.
Contributions
The research contributes to the existing literature on organizational roles, happiness, and identity by providing insights into the lived experiences of Happiness Managers. By uncovering the nuances of their identity work, the study will enhance our understanding of the challenges these professionals face and the strategies they employ. Through the study, we are able to identify the connection between the adoption of organizational trends with role ambiguity and identity work. Through the creation of a new framework, the findings will also inform professionals of ways others have utilized identity work in their roles. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9118943
- author
- Dölling, Kim Katrien LU and Pinho, Livia Luna LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BUSN49 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- Happiness Manager, Chief Happiness Officer, Identity Theory, Identity Work, Role Creation, Fads and Fashion, Isomorphism
- language
- English
- id
- 9118943
- date added to LUP
- 2023-06-20 12:05:13
- date last changed
- 2023-06-20 12:05:13
@misc{9118943,
abstract = {{Purpose
The main purpose of this research is to get a deeper understanding on how individuals in the newfound position of Happiness Manager (HM) and related titles navigate their roles with limited prior understanding or guidance given by organizations. This study will investigate the different factors that influence their understanding of the role and how they construct and maintain their professional identities. One aspect that will be explored is how Happiness Managers navigate the tension between advocating for employee happiness while aligning with organizational goals and expectations.
Methodology
The study was done through the use of qualitative research techniques while following an interpretative perspective, inspired by grounded theory, and adopting an inductive research approach. We chose to conduct semi-structured interviews with Happiness Managers in order to get a deeper understanding of how they interpret and conduct their roles.
Theoretical perspective
The theoretical framework of this study discusses literature regarding identity work and its relation to role ambiguity, emotions and, fads and fashion, as well as the connection of happiness with organizational concepts. These concepts were approached in regard to the experiences lived by Happiness Manager in their roles. Previous research on job crafting (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001), image management (Goffman, 1959), and isomorphism (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983) assisted us in gaining a deeper understanding of how professionals define and enact their role in organizations.
Contributions
The research contributes to the existing literature on organizational roles, happiness, and identity by providing insights into the lived experiences of Happiness Managers. By uncovering the nuances of their identity work, the study will enhance our understanding of the challenges these professionals face and the strategies they employ. Through the study, we are able to identify the connection between the adoption of organizational trends with role ambiguity and identity work. Through the creation of a new framework, the findings will also inform professionals of ways others have utilized identity work in their roles.}},
author = {{Dölling, Kim Katrien and Pinho, Livia Luna}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{"It’s Kind of a Mystery Role”: Unpacking the Happiness Manager}},
year = {{2023}},
}