Materiality in institutional work: shaping the emerging logic of policy co-creation

Magdalena Potz (), Sarah Serval, Laurine Basse (), Bruno Tiberghien () and Anaïs Saint Jonsson ()
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Magdalena Potz: COACTIS - COnception de l'ACTIon en Situation - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - UJM - Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne, Mines Saint-Étienne MSE - École des Mines de Saint-Étienne - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], FAYOL-ENSMSE - Institut Henri Fayol - Mines Saint-Étienne MSE - École des Mines de Saint-Étienne - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], FAYOL-ENSMSE - Département Management responsable et innovation - ENSM ST-ETIENNE - Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de St Etienne - Institut Henri Fayol
Sarah Serval: CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon, AMU IMPGT - Institut de management public et de gouvernance territoriale - AMU - Aix Marseille Université, AMU - Aix Marseille Université
Laurine Basse: AMU IMPGT - Institut de management public et de gouvernance territoriale - AMU - Aix Marseille Université, CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon
Bruno Tiberghien: AMU IMPGT - Institut de management public et de gouvernance territoriale - AMU - Aix Marseille Université, CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon, AMU - Aix Marseille Université
Anaïs Saint Jonsson: AMU IMPGT - Institut de management public et de gouvernance territoriale - AMU - Aix Marseille Université, CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon

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Abstract: Following the material turn in the study of institutions, this research focuses on the tangible elements actors use to influence institutions. Specifically, in the context of an institutional void surrounding the emergence of a new institutional logic, we seek to understand how actors utilise materiality in their institutional work to shape this new logic. We conducted a qualitative exploratory study based on a single case, analysing the emergence of the logic of co-creation. This logic, which advocates for the inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes, poses challenges to public organisations. We explore how this logic emerged in a French municipality through the implementation of co-creation workshops with citizens. Our research involved observations, interviews and the collection of secondary data to achieve an in-depth understanding of our case study and its complexities. Our findings reveal that three forms of materiality – artefacts and objects, space and time, bodies and embodiment – are particularly relevant in institutional work. These forms play multiple roles in institutional work, illustrating both the enabling and constraining aspects of materiality. This study underscores the strategic role of materiality in the process of institutional work.

Keywords: emerging logics; co-creation; public policy; institutional logics; institutional work; materiality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-02
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04791092v1
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Published in European Management Journal, 2026, 44 (1), pp.12-24. ⟨10.1016/j.emj.2024.11.002⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04791092

DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2024.11.002

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