Enacting Change Through Borrowed Legitimacy: An Institutional Perspective

Eric Shaunn Mattingly, Jonathan H. Westover

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The notion of enacting change in lieu of the forces that promote institutionalization is troublesome to Institutional Theory, which generally predicts isomorphism as a condition of survival. Here, we offer borrowed legitimacy through coalitions as an explanation for how an organization might successfully deviate from social norms to enact change, yet still gain sufficient cognitive and sociopolitical legitimacy for survival. We explain that borrowing legitimacy through a coalition allows an illegitimate organization to impose an alternative future despite institutional pressures for its convergence to social norms, rules and expectations.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalManagement Faculty Publications and Presentations
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • case studies
  • institutional theory
  • institutions
  • legitimacy
  • organizational theory

EGS Disciplines

  • Business Administration, Management, and Operations

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