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Approaching adulthood: the maturing of institutional theory

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Abstract

I summarize seven general trends in the institutional analysis of organizations which I view as constructive and provide evidence of progress in the development of this perspective. I emphasize corrections in early theoretical limitations as well as improvements in the use of empirical indicators and an expansion of the types of organizations included and issues addressed by institutional theorists.

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Notes

  1. Institutional theory has a long and complex history stretching back to the mid-nineteenth century. Important contributions have been made across the social sciences (see Scott 2008). This paper is limited to the more recent period—developments since 1977—and focuses on the efforts of sociologists and management scholars to understand the connections between institutional frameworks and forces and organizations.

  2. For early criticisms of these early determinant tendencies, see Perrow 1985, 1986; Hall 1992).

  3. This (over)emphasis continues up to the present time, and remains a continuing feature characterizing Meyer’s more recent work on isomorphic processes at the global level (see Meyer et al. 1997; Drori et al. 2006)

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Acknowledgments

An earlier version of this article was presented at the conference “The Cultural Turn IV: Instituting & Institutions,” University of California, Santa Barbara, March 2003.

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  1. Sociology Department MC 2047, Stanford University, Main Quad-450 Serra Mall, Building 120, Stanford, CA, 94305-2047, USA

    W. Richard Scott

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Scott, W.R. Approaching adulthood: the maturing of institutional theory. Theor Soc 37, 427–442 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-008-9067-z

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