Escape from the Iron Cage? Organizational Change and Isomorphic Pressures in the Public Sector

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Ashworth, Rachel; Boyne, George; Delbridge, Rick
• 署名单位: Cardiff University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1053-1858
• DOI: 10.1093/jopart/mum038
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 165-187
• 关键词: strategy content; FORMAL-STRUCTURE; performance; management; responsiveness; TRANSFORMATION; diffusion; REFORM; field

摘要

Institutional theory suggests that organizations pursue legitimacy by conforming to isomorphic pressures in their environment. We extend previous research on institutional theory by distinguishing between two definitions of conformity (compliance and convergence) and by taking a comprehensive view of the organizational characteristics that might be subject to isomorphic pressures. This framework is applied to change between 2001 and 2004 in the internal characteristics of 101 public organizations in England. We find substantial evidence of compliance but more limited support for convergence. Furthermore, the impact of isomorphic pressures was stronger on organizational strategies and culture than on structures and processes. Thus, the relevance of institutional theory to change in the public sector depends on the definition of conformity that is used and the organizational characteristics that are examined.