Organisational Identity (i.e. OI) could be described as an employee theory of who the organisation is. The concept is seen as one of the most problematic concepts to define. One of the main reasons for that is its close relation to the concepts of culture and image, as they are seen as defining each other. As expressed in previous research there is a need for theoretical clarification and investigations in practice in this area. We aim to contribute to an OI concept clarification and theoretical understanding by investigating OI in a single case at a Swedish company; Sapa Heat Transfer. The aim is fulfilled by a focus on research questions concerning how different employee groups perceive the organisational identity at this company, how the organisational identity can be described at the company and how the sum of these answers may develop the organisational identity concept further. In order to investigate OI at Sapa Heat Transfer we have used four qualitative methods; one to one informational interview with key personnel, observations, desk research and focus groups, where focus groups was the main data collection method. A key for this triangulation was to generate a deep contextual understanding in order to facilitate a separation between identity, culture and image making a definition of the OI possible. Our findings show the organisational identity at SHT as being built on four cornerstones; Responsibility, Engagement, Willingness and Energy. The OI at SHT is to be considered as weak rather than strong regarding the OI strength. There is a strong culture resulting in an "industrial mentality" regarding the employees. Our results are showing that the culture might appear as OI, i.e. false OI, if the present OI is weak. There might be multiple OIs at the company, which we are rejecting. Instead our results are showing an existence of multiple cognitive perspectives, functioning as cognitive platforms creating the employee perceptions of the OI. At SHT the perspectives are demonstrated to be developed by vocations, positions, departments, units/divisions and/or work groups. The individual perspective taken is dependent on the employee perceived belongingness. An alignment of all existing employee perspectives will define the true OI at a company. Further, the OI perspective framework presented could facilitate a separation between OI and culture if a time perspective is applied, since our results is indicating culture to be connected to a past time perspective and OI seems to be related to a present. Our results are presenting OI as changeable within limits, developed within a culture frame, possible to make explicit but at the same time occurring mainly unconsciously. Finally, our results have defined a need for a complementing category, regarding behaviouristic characteristics, among the categories presented as potential OI content characteristics within the Balmer and Greyser (2002) framework.

Problem: How should a company act to sustain a strong identity and thereby a strong brand image when operating in a changeable world? Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyze whether the corporate identity of Academic Work is strong or fragmented. Further more this thesis aims to give recommendations on how the company could continue working to maintain a strong brand image. Methodology: The thesis is a case study of Academic Work. The study is based on data collected from interviews, a poll as well as data from the company website. The thesis does not intend to generalize but rather it aims to give a deeper understanding and a greater knowledge within the field. Theoretical perspectives: The theoretical base of this thesis is the Vision, Culture & Image Model by Hatch and Schultz. Organizational Identity Construction Model by Lane and Scott, and Service marketing model by Grönroos. Empirical findings: The empirical section contains a summary of the conducted interviews as well as a compilation of the poll. Analysis & Result: The study shows that the corporate identity of Academic Work is strong due to the fact that image, vision and corporate culture are coherent. In addition employees share company values and experience identification with corporate goals and vision. Furthermore the company successfully communicates the business plan and ideas about personnel through external-, internal- and interactive marketing. Conclusion: The study shows that companies should work towards a strong company culture where employees on a personal level share company values. Managers should try to motivate employees in working towards company goals. The company must have an image that is coherent with reality. Also they must be aware of its strengths and weaknesses. The company needs an internal, external and interactive communication that works successfully. These working methods contribute in strengthening the corporate identity and will give a strong brand image. / Problem: Hur skall ett företag som verkar inom en föränderlig omgivning arbeta för att upprätthålla en stark identitet och därmed en stark image för sitt varumärke? Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att genom en fallstudie analysera om företagsidentiteten på Academic Work är stark eller fragmenterad. Syftet är även att ge rekommendationer till företaget för hur det kan arbeta för att bibehålla en stark image för sitt varumärke. Metod: Uppsatsen består av en fallstudie av bemanningsföretaget Academic Work. Studien behandlar data insamlat från enkätundersökning, intervjuer, samt material från företagets hemsida. Uppsatsen har en kvalitativ ansats som inte syftar till att leda till några generaliseringar eftersom det är en fallstudie. Istället syftar uppsatsen till att ge en djupare förståelse och en större kunskap inom området. Teori: Uppsatsens teoretiska underlag utgörs av Vision, Culture & Image Model som författas av Hatch och Schultz. Organisational Identity Construction Model, författad av Lane och Scott, samt Modell för tjänstemarknadsföring, författad av Grönroos. Empiri: Empiriavsnittet består av en sammanfattning av de intervjuer som genomförts samt en sammanställning av svaren från enkätundersökningen. Dessa går att finna i fulltext i bilagorna. Analys & Resultat: Studien visar att företagsidentiteten på Academic Work är stark eftersom image, vision och företagskultur är nära sammanlänkade. Arbetsgruppen identifierar sig med företagets identitet och delar på ett personligt plan företagets normer och värderingar. Dessutom lyckas företaget kommunicera ut sin affärsidé och personalidé effektivt genom den externa, interna och interaktiva marknadsföringen. Slutsats: Undersökningen visar att företag bör arbeta för att ha en stark företagskultur där medarbetarna på ett personligt plan delar företagets normer och värderingar. Ledningen bör även arbeta aktivt för att motivera de anställda att jobba mot företagets mål. Företaget bör ha en effektiv kommunikation både internt, externt och interaktivt. Dessa sätt att arbeta inom ett företag bidrar var för sig till att stärka företagets identitet och ger en stark image av varumärket.

The degree project has been implemented abroad in Brisbane, Australia. A literature study has beenperformed parallel to the practical work within the subject »Corporate identity through graphicaldesign«. In this study deeper research has been made concerning the establishment and manifestationof a corporate identity and its program. The knowledge given from this study has been put into practicethrough two larger projects.The first project was carried out at De Pasquale, advertising agency in Brisbane, where a corporateidentity program was designed for a new company. The company is a fitness centre, called KnockoutFitness, which specializes in different types of boxing training sessions such as Boxing, Thai Bow andBoxercise but also Aqua aerobics. They needed a full corporate identity program including a logotype,business card, letter paper-paper and address labels.The second project was carried out at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. A promotioncampaign was designed for the Department of Visual Arts, which included two information folders andone advertisement. The purpose of the campaign was to promote both the undergraduate and postgraduatecourses offered within the department.

In this degree project a study of the importance of a graphic identity to companies has been done. A questionnaire among small companies in Dalarna has beenmade. From this, three sets of graphic profile-program have been formed andthese are suitable for new companies. Finally a practical application has been made on Greenfield in Mora, a graphic profile has been designed.To cause an identity is to prove that someone or something exists by individualizingand distinguish. Every individual or company has its qualities or charasteristics.The way to a desirable identity is going by a corporate identity-program that containsthe companies strategies, people, products, buildings, trademarks, graphic design. To create an identity a well considered strategy is needed, where all members of the company are involved. This will lead to a positive image and means for an efficient market communication. The identity of the company is that the company wish what the company/product will stand for, but the image is what the market think about the company/product. The surrounding worldwill be convinced that the company is a reliable producer or deliverer. The companyvill also be regarded as useful and responsable, profitable as an object or partner and a good place of work.Today, trademarking is the most important carrier of identity for a company. A trademark, like a word, a picture or a slogan, will distinguish a product from theothers. What is needed to build up a strong trademark? How can a trade markbe developed to an advantage?To get a lot of people in the same direction clear guidlines are needed. Usually you focused on graphic design, especially the symbols and marks of the companies.The results are presented on a graphic profile, documented in a graphic manual.

The today‟s business world deals with an increasing phenomenon of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A‟s), a process through which companies gain access to some tangible and intangible resources. Within the automotive industry this phenomenon requires even more attention, since it faced many difficulties during time. This can be seen through the numerous mergers/acquisitions failures, among which it can be mentioned the one of Daimler & Chrysler, Volvo & Renault, BMW & Rover, which were also treated in the thesis. However, although fewer, there are also M&A‟s that became successful, such as the acquisition of Skoda or Seat by Volkswagen, or the acquisition of Dacia by Renault. The last example captured the attention of the study in particular.However, although they are mostly defined by similar characteristics, the mergers and acquisitions mean slightly different things. An acquisition occurs when an organization takes over another one and establishes itself clearly as the new owner, while a merger occurs when two companies, of a similar size, create a single new company owned and operated by both of the parties.The very purpose of the thesis was to reveal the possible impact of mergers and acquisitions regarding the brand perspective in the automotive industry, through the eyes of the case studies mentioned above and the case of Dacia & Renault in particularThe study chose to use an inductive approach, meaning that the researcher had first collected data from Dacia and afterwards, according to the information owned, he developed the theoretical framework. The study is furthermore exploratory, since the researcher sought to explore Dacia‟s approach to branding under Renault ownership.The interesting part consists in the paper‟s findings. First it was discovered that the companies that merge, sometimes face difficulties in establishing the corporate identity of their new formed company. In the case of acquisitions however the process of adopting a new corporate identity applies mostly to the acquired company and overall it is a bit more clear what strategy should the acquired company adopt. On the other hand the paper also identified the M&A‟s impact on the new portfolio. When both are eager to keep their own corporate and product brands, the new portfolio becomes too complex and does not allow cost savings synergies in terms of components equalization, production rationalization or marketing. However, due to the investments that the acquiring company usually makes, the new portfolio can also become more competitive.Regarding the case study on which the paper chose to focus, it was revealed the Dacia‟s corporate brand strategy that boosted its sales and revived its identity. Afterwards it emerged Dacia‟s portfolio consisting of brands that complement themselves and therefore address a wide spectrum of customer needs, and the brands‟ dynamics in time.

Abstract The purpose of this report was to study if market segmentation could influence the corporate identity and indirectly the image of a company. The relevance of this purpose was due to a lack of development of the market segmentation theory in a long period of time. There are many authors in this area of research, but not much of a consensus between them. This report therefore delves deeper into one of these market segmentation theories in order to verify the multi-segmentation theory.   During the process of investigation the management of four music festivals were interviewed to see how they use their market segmentation. Several interviews were done with one or more individuals of the organizations. The findings are two-folded. The use of multi-segmentation was proven through the interviews with the festivals. All four festivals used several different market segmentation variables, all focusing greater understanding of the values and personalities of their target group.   The most interesting finding is that from the greater understanding of their customers, the festivals have been able to identify an identity with their target group. Their respective corporate identities have then been build around their target group identities in order to reflect the customers values and believes. This concept of a target group identity may have great impacts on the customers’ perception of the corporate identity and image.

Firms invested numerous resources in enhancing brand equity. The overall efforts in enhancing design, researching, manufacturing, marketing mix, quality, customer satisfaction, etc are all necessary conditions needed for a firm to enhance its brand equity. Among them, enhancing product identity is one of the ways available. Firms have been developing corporate identity systems (CIS) for years, yet beyond distinctive shop signs, trademarks and layouts, they could spend efforts on products. Firms could develop products with high identity, and use them on enhancing their own brand popularity. If combined with other advantages possessed by a firm, the brand equity must thus be further enhanced. This is the key issue when Taiwan¡¦s industries are trying to transform into OBM. This thesis served ³¯°ê²»¡¦s (1995) six dimensions on product styles as the basis, and tried to verify the hypothesis that Apple¡¦s series products possess high identity. This research also examined the relation between customer satisfaction and product identity. In addition, this study added the marketing mix, user and using conditions as variables in order to understand the comments of Apple¡¦s users (consumers) on Apple¡¦s series products. This study also conducted questionnaire surveys with aforementioned dimensions, participated in Apple users¡¦ gatherings and interviewed employees in Apple¡¦s channels in Tainan and Kaohsiung. The outcomes indicate that high identity is found on the exterior of Apple¡¦s products, and high satisfactions are found regardless of user and using condition. On marketing mix, however, results are indicating that the satisfactions of Apple¡¦s marketing mix are generally low, yet high scores are still documented on dimensions of Apple¡¦s brand equity. This research discovered that product identity dimension and marketing mix dimension bear positive relations with brand equity, and the customer satisfaction was performed as a mediating factor. Insignificant loadings are found on the user and using condition factors.

This practicum sets out to address several challenges faced by a multinational corporation operating within a globalized marketplace through the reconsideration of its workplace design. The aim is to achieve a balance between cultural adaptation and standardized corporate identity in the design for the hypothetical multinational management consulting company, Torrent. The balance is perused in order to support Japanese and Canadian national-work-cultures, the two cultures on which the practicum is based, while creating a strong, consistent, and recognizable visual identity across its different subsidiaries. The practicum’s overall objective is to demonstrate how both of these themes can be achieved simultaneously in order to create a balance that benefits both the multinational company as well as its host country. The practicum’s outcome involves two design solutions developed for Torrent based on a single workplace, one responding to Japan’s national work culture, and the other to Canada’s. A standardized corporate identity is achieved through the communication of a consistent company identity in both workplace designs.

This thesis examines the importance of employee perceptions of their organisation's visual corporate identity (VCI) particularly the symbolic 'corporate logo'. Employees' views of the logo reveal their perceptions of the organisation itself (Henderson and Cote 1998:15, Olins 1995:73) so are an important indicator of their positive or negative feelings towards their establishment. Previous research recognises the significance of employees' opinions, but has overlooked their perceptions of the VCI. In education, external marketing (including VCI) is of growing interest but there has been little concern with internal marketing. Methodology A mixed methods, sequential, explanatory case study into a UK independent school was undertaken. Quantitative data was obtained from questionnaires, distributed to the schools' employees and qualitative data from interviews; analysis reveals convergent and divergent findings.Findings The majority of the schools' employees consider the corporate colours and logo important, associate positive meanings with the logo and were proud to be linked to the school by wearing branded items. Employees felt affiliation for the logo and considered the VCI to be strong although responses differed depending upon gender, full or part-time employment, department, seniority and length-of-service. A new model has been developed, the IMP Test, that reveals the perceptions; the importance, meanings, and pride that employees attach to their VCI. Implications These findings reinforce and add to previous research of employee perceptions of their VCI (particularly in education) and it follows, towards their organisation. Utilising this approach, managers can gain a deeper understanding of employee perceptions which has implications for morale and motivation.

A logo lies central in an organisation's visual identity system and it is a way of communicating fundamental aspects about the organisation, such as the organisation personality or the organisation's mission and vision. The logo, or corporate visual identity, could be seen as the organisation's visual shorthand that summarises these fundamental aspects. A design element such as colour can be an expressive tool in terms of visual identity. The use of a particular colour in the logo of an organisation conveys a specific message about that company's identity and personality through the meaning and symbolism that is attached to the colour. The corporate colour scheme of an organisation can also aid in communication without being displayed in context of the visual identity. The combination of both verbal communication such as text, and visual communication such as images, through a design element like colour, could provide an effective method of conveying information. The nature of this study is descriptive. It examined the role played by colour in an organisation's visual identity as a communication tool. The study followed a qualitative approach, making use of a literature study and a case study approach. In the literature study, the role of the graphic designer, the visual identity and a design element like colour in the context of corporate communication were examined. The sources of evidence used for the case study approach, were questionnaires, as well as a colour analysis of the corporate colour schemes of each of the selected case organisations as utilised in their visual identities. The research project attempted to determine the role of colour as communication, as well as the motivation behind the use of a particular colour, should such a motivation exist, and the communication intended behind each colour. The project also attempted to determine the target markets at which the communication is aimed; the research done by each of the case organisations regarding colour symbolism and the suitability of the colour regarding the target markets; and the importance attached to colour as a communication tool. These questions were investigated through the use of the questionnaires. The colour analysis was done to function as a control mechanism to, for example, determine whether the intended message behind colour correlated to the perceived message as determined by the colour analysis. The results from the questionnaires and colour analysis used in the study showed that colour does play an important role in the selected case organisation's visual identities. The results of the study also found, however, that regardless of how important colour was viewed as a method of communication by the respondents, certain factors exist which influence the effectiveness of colour as a communication tool. / Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.