The DOI matches its Crossref record; 64 of the 65 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Double-Edge of Organizational Legitimation
Abstract
Organizations require legitimacy to attract constituents' support Legitimacy, however, is always problematic. Thus, organizations frequently pursue legitimacy through a variety of substantive and symbolic practices. But legitimacy is a social judgment that is ultimately accorded the organization by its constituents. Organizations that pursue this judgement run the risk of “protesting too much”–of being perceived as precisely the opposite, manipulative and illegitimate. Such organizations include (1) the clumsy actor, perceived as unethical, heavy-handed, or insensitive, (2) the nervous actor, perceived as dogmatic, intolerant, or evasive, and (3) the overacting actor, perceived to overstate claims to legitimacy or overreact to faults. The analysis suggests that attempts to increase legitimacy may trigger a series of vicious circles which ultimately decrease legitimacy.
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“Organizations engage in various forms of impression management to promote positive audience perceptions.”
From Strategic Silence: Withholding Certification Status as a Hypocrisy Avoidance Tactic (2018) · cites this paper as Ashforth and Gibbs, 1990
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“using impression management tactics becomes increasingly important in defending against challenges or threats to an organization's reputation”
From Strategic Silence: Withholding Certification Status as a Hypocrisy Avoidance Tactic (2018) · cites this paper as Ashforth and Gibbs, 1990
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1 of the 65 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Ashforth, B. E., & Gibbs, B. W.
- Affiliations
- Concordia University (CA)
- Simon Fraser University (CA)
- ORCID
- Ashforth, Blake E.
- Venue
- Organization Science
- Published
- 1990-05
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 177-194
- ISSN
- 1047-7039 (ISSN-L)
- 1526-5455
- OpenAlex
- W2087107032
- Cited by
- 2,228
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 139 · 2025: 143 · 2024: 118 · 2023: 119 · 2022: 122 · 2021: 139 · 2020: 137 · 2019: 114 · 2018: 122 · 2017: 101 · 2016: 88 · 2015: 116 · 2014: 133 · 2013: 98 · 2012: 80
- FWCI
- 8.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Organization Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Management and Organizational Studies
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Organizational Strategy and Culture
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Corporate Identity and Reputation
- Keywords
- organizational legitimacy, legitimation strategies, symbolic legitimacy, substantive legitimacy, perceived manipulation
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