Order, authority & identity : a comparative study of ski patrollers and lift operators at a California ski resort

Abstract

The objective of this thesis, resulting from two years of participant-observation fieldwork, is to explore the link between order, authority, and identity at a California ski resort. Through comparing how work gets done in two departments on the mountain, I consider how the authority effective in maintaining order is shaped by the identities of those working in each department. In particular, I demonstrate how subcultural authority shapes work accomplishment in Lift Operations, whereas organizational authority ensures that the Ski Patrol work gets done. Through ethnographic detail, these authorities are linked to the lift operators' ironic detachment and the patrollers' professionalism. A theoretical contribution is made in the development of an "action claims" framework for identity, the order-facilitating analysis of authority, and the presentation of their interconnections. The consequences of the configurations for the individuals and the organization are considered. Implications for managing subcultural populations are explored.