Institutional Work: Refocusing Institutional Studies of Organization
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss an alternative focus for institutional studies of organization - the study of institutional work. Research on institutional work examines the practices of individual and collective actors aimed at creating, maintaining, and disrupting institutions. Our focus in this paper is on the distinctiveness of institutional work as a field of study and the potential it provides for the examination of new questions. We argue that research on institutional work can contribute to bringing the individual back into institutional theory, help to re-examine the relationship between agency and institutions, and provide a bridge between critical and institutional views of organization.
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Institutional work maintains the focus of institutional theory on the relationship between institutions and actions and emphasizes that all activities are embedded in institutional structures.
“In this conceptualization, a relevant theoretical lens is institutional work, which maintains the focus of institutional theory on the relationship between institutions and actions and emphasizes the idea that all activities are embedded in institutional structures (Lawrence et al., 2011).”
From Advancing the sustainability agenda through strategic human resource management: Insights and suggestions for future research (2023) · cites this paper as Lawrence et al., 2011
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- Authors
- Lawrence, T., Suddaby, R., & Leca, B.
- Affiliations
- Simon Fraser University (CA)
- University of Alberta (CA)
- Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rouen (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Lawrence, Thomas
- Venue
- Journal of Management Inquiry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-11-21
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 52-58
- ISSN
- 1056-4926 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-6542
- OpenAlex
- W2117530168
- Cited by
- 1,355
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 72 · 2025: 97 · 2024: 83 · 2023: 91 · 2022: 109 · 2021: 102 · 2020: 118 · 2019: 152 · 2018: 96 · 2017: 89 · 2016: 83 · 2015: 71 · 2014: 94 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 60.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Management Inquiry (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic Theory and Institutions
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management Theory and Practice
- Keywords
- institutional work, institutional theory, individual agency, institutional change, collective action
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