External Perception Matters: The Phenomenon of Identity Coupling in Interorganizational Relations

This qualitative study investigates interorganizational relations (IORs) via 16 nonprofit organizations serving Chinese Canadians in Canada. This study reveals how potential partnering organizations perceive each other’s organizational identities that influence the formation and outcomes of IORs. An organizational ecological perspective of organizational identity is adopted. The study finds that value-based and resource-based organizational identity coupling of potential partnering organizations can facilitate the respective forms of IORs. The facilitating effect of Identity coupling is weakened in the presence of a third party with resource. The study demonstrates the utility of the orgnization ecology’s organizational identity literature and contributes to our understanding of value-based IORs.