Structure! Agency! (And Other Quarrels): Meta-Analyzing Institutional Theories of Organization

Michel Lander and Pursey Heugens
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Michel Lander: Erasmus University Rotterdam
Pursey Heugens: Erasmus University Rotterdam

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Abstract: We use meta-analytical techniques to address three central debates in institutional theory: Is organizational behavior the product of social structure or organizational agency? Does conformity to institutional norms enhance or diminish organizational performance? Can organizational field-level factors explain differences in the pull of isomorphic forces across organizational fields? We find that the influence of social structure is weak. Also, the adoption of isomorphic templates improves both symbolic and substantive performance. Finally, we identify several field-level factors that moderate isomorphic processes. We discuss the implications of these findings for institutional theory research.

Keywords: institutional theories; organizations; organizational behavior; social structure; organizational performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-02
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (77)

Published in Academy of Management Journal, 2009, 52 (1), pp.61-85. ⟨10.5465/AMJ.2009.36461835⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00623835

DOI: 10.5465/AMJ.2009.36461835

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