Exploring the Concept of Integrity—Toward a CraftInspired Interpretation

Abstract

The concept of integrity is used as a psychosocial concept to describe tensions and dilemmas experienced by professional and semi-professional workers in a neoliberal working life. In Norway, the concept has even been included in the Working Environment Act. In general terms, the concept refers to the degree to which professionals experience that their internalized professional standards can be realized. While supporting the general relevance of integrity as an important concept for assessing an important psychosocial challenge in Nordic working life, we propose that integrity should not be addressed as a psychological phenomenon. We suggest that it in line with a more sociological orientation is addressed as a craft issue. This interpretation is inspired by Richard Sennett’s concept of craftwork. Understanding integrity as a craft phenomenon inspires workplace critique within neoliberal work organizations

Integrity and derailment of senior leaders in the Southern African context

“…Although integrity tests could help to combat disruptive and counterproductive employee behaviour (Camara & Schneider, 1994;Cullen & Sackett, 2004), the goal posts have shifted and the need exists to predict job performance rather than disruptive behaviour. Thomassen, Strand and Heggen (2017) state that the concept of integrity is used as a psychosocial concept to describe the tensions and dilemmas experienced by professional and semi-professional workers in neoliberal working life. In general terms, the concept refers to the degree to which professionals experience that their internalised professional standards can be realised (Van Niekerk & May, 2019).…”

“…Schabracq further defines integrity as a state of congruence, that is, a state in which we experience continuity and connectedness between our surroundings and ourselves: '[i]ntegrity is used here first in its meaning of an intact whole' (Schabracq, 2003, p. 14). A too narrow functional orientation could cause derailment in senior leaders (Thomassen et al, 2017).…”

“…In a similar vein, Cribb (2011) describes integrity as an 'inner moral compass' guiding the thoughts and actions of senior leaders. Cleary, Walter and Horsfall (2013) argue even more directly for the necessity of senior leaders to stand up for their personal integrity as a reaction to new forms of organising that undermine quality in work (Thomassen et al, 2017). The concept of 'professional derailment' describes the negative psychological experience, which arises when 'professional leaders' experience a discrepancy between integrity and what is practically achievable at work.…”