Values and targets in an institutional entrepreneur in an extreme situation: Assisting in survival as a going concern status and as worthiness

Terhi Chakhovich

Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management, 2025, vol. 23, issue 1, 60-89

Abstract: PurposePerformance targets may become pressing and thus, particularly when crisis strikes, organizational values may be sacrificed to ensure organizational survival. The study aims to show how being on the edge of survival affects organizational values and targets.Design/methodology/approachThe study describes a case company fighting for its very survival. Interviews with company representatives and stakeholders are used as well as archival data. Theory on institutional entrepreneurship is used to show attempts to use values and targets in implementing change.FindingsIt is shown that in this extreme case, a specific target and a specific value together become the means by which the company tries to survive while fighting against a major competitor. The target is a sales target and the value is that of quality consciousness. This study shows that when organizational survival is considered to be formal going concern status, extreme performance pressure may result in focusing exclusively on company targets and the sacrificing of company values. This study also shows that when organizational survival is considered to be the maintaining of the experienced worthiness of the unique and distinguishing features and purposes of the entity in question, performance pressure may cause organizational values to gain traction relative to targets.Practical implicationsThis study stresses the importance of communicating about both values and targets in times of distress. This study also recommends those wishing to survive in an extreme situation to look at both facets of survival.Originality/valueWorthiness may be perceived as relevant from the perspective of stakeholders – in this case, customers. Institutional entrepreneurship is shown to promote a socio-technical control dyad consisting of a target and a value that are meant to assist in survival as a going concern and as worthiness. The target is meant to align with existing institutions, thereby providing resources while the value is intended to help in institutional entrepreneurship more directly.

Keywords: Survival; Value; Institutional entrepreneurship; Going concern; Target; Worthiness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:qrampp:qram-03-2024-0059

DOI: 10.1108/QRAM-03-2024-0059

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