Full Description
Putting Institutional Theory to Work During Times of Crisis addresses a persistent challenge in management research: bridging the gap between rigorous theory and practical application. Despite the perceived complexity of institutional theory, this collection shows how it offers valuable insights for practitioners navigating organizational and societal crises.
Revisiting James D. Thompson's (1956) vision of administrative science as an applied field, the editors assert that institutional theory can guide decision-makers in understanding and responding to challenges from eroding democratic institutions to climate change. With papers divided into two sections, Section A foregrounds institutions themselves, examining the practical implications of institutional dynamics; and Section B focuses on activities within and around institutions, exploring the implications of extended institutional forces. Contributing authors identify relevant stakeholders, specify actionable strategies, and delineate appropriate contexts for application. By synthesizing seemingly disparate studies, the papers present a cohesive narrative about the practical value of institutional theory in addressing contemporary crises.
Illuminating the complex interplay between actors, practices, and institutional contexts, Putting Institutional Theory to Work During Times of Crisis provides a nuanced understanding of how change can be affected within structural constraints. This work demonstrates how institutional theory can fulfil its potential as both a rigorous academic pursuit and a valuable guide for real-world decision-making.
Contents
Introduction: Putting Institutional Theory to Work During Times of Crisis; Kylie Heales, Natalie Eng, Angelique Slade Shantz, and Emily S. Block
Chapter 1. Bridging Theory and Practice in an Era of Crisis and Complexity: A Science Communication Approach to Academic-Practitioner Engagement; Prativa Baral and Jasmine Mah
Section A. Exploring the Practical Implications of Institutional Dynamics
Chapter 2. Regenerative Organizing as Institutional Repair; Brett Crawford, Madeline Toubiana, and Erica Coslor
Chapter 3. Scaling Social Innovations - The Role of Institutional Infrastructure in "Mission Drift" at the Field Level; Andrea Wessendorf, Kamal Munir, and Royston Greenwood
Chapter 4. Beyond Central Actors: Rethinking the Role of Peripheral Actors in Fields Facing Decline; Maggie M. Cascadden, Emily S. Block, and Viva Ona Bartkus
Chapter 5. Transforming Via Mutability and Transposability: The Organizational Implications of Logics and Their Values; Bandita Deka Kalita and Joel Gehman
Section B. Exploring the Practical Implications of Collective Action In and Around Institutions
Chapter 6. Visualizing Institutions: Tweeting Images and Emotions in the Wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings; Christi Lockwood and Mary Ann Glynn
Chapter 7. The Practical Significance of History: When and How History Can Be Used for Institutional Change; Natalie Eng, Laura Fey, and Hannah Schupfer
Chapter 8. When Business as Usual Fails: The Case of Urban Agriculture in Detroit; Jocelyn Leitzinger and Robert David
Chapter 9. Institutional Perspectives on Social Enterprise - Relevance for Policy in Democratizing Contexts; Nazik Beishenaly, Johanna Mair, and Emily S. Block
