Institutional change in large law firms: A resource dependency and institutional perspective

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Sherer, PD; Lee, K
• 署名单位: University of Oregon; Seoul National University (SNU)
• 刊物名称: ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4273
• DOI: 10.5465/3069287
• 发表日期: 2002
• 页码: 102-119
• 关键词: ORGANIZATIONAL-CHANGE; FORMAL-STRUCTURE; TRANSFORMATION; Isomorphism

摘要

We integrate resource dependency and institutional theory to argue that resource scarcity drives, and legitimacy enables, institutional change. Building on a historical account, we examine the sources and timing of innovation departing from standard human resource practices using event history analysis of over 200 principal offices of large law firms. Offices with human resource scarcity innovated to acquire alternative resources; highly prestigious offices had the legitimacy to be first or early adopters. Our findings highlight the value of looking to the resource side and to the notion of legitimacy in building an institutional theory of change.