Constructing an Organizational Identity with Political Ideology: The Case of Huawei, 1987–2020

Using archival evidence covering Huawei’s development from 1987 to 2020, this study examines how the company employed Chinese communist political ideology in constructing and transforming its organizational identity. Huawei initially drew on the idea of Fen Dou to present itself as a revitalizer of national industry, subsequently deemphasized this ideological association while positioning itself as an international corporate citizen, and later repurposed it to support an identity as a global technology leader. The study conceptualizes political ideology as a double-edged resource that can create resonance with particular stakeholders while also generating organizational risks.