ORGANIZATIONAL STIGMA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND SYNTHESIS

Abstract

This systematic review aims to individuate the main theories, types and levels in organizational stigma studies, in order to fix the state of the art about the topic and propose a synthesis of the perspectives re- viewed. Indeed, literature about organizational stigma is growing but suffers of a lack of categorization of the different theoretical frameworks, stigma types classifications and levels of analysis. So, this systematic review includes reviews about organizational stigma and original studies about stigma types and levels. After individuating eight main theoretical frameworks on which organizational stigma is based, we found eight organizational stigma’s classifications of types and four levels of analysis. Then, it is proposed a catego- rization model of organizational stigma in which four organizational stigma types’ clusters (value, conduct, primary task and indirect) rise from the interaction of two dimensions related to organizational outputs, the tangibility/intangibility dimension and core/not core dimension. In this model, each organizational stigma cluster can be analized at an individual, group, corporate and cultural level.