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| Version 2013-2014 |
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| GDOC0008-1 | Institutional Theory and Social Construction
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| Duration : | 30h Th |
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| Number of credits : |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| English language |
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Course contents :
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| The purpose of this seminar is to survey major theoretical and empirical approaches in Institutional Theory, to include an extension to Social Construction as a perspective to consider and perform academic research. Organizational Theory is one of the most referenced areas of social science today because of its capacity to build understanding of how organizations form, survive, and grow. As such, it is intrinsically linked to ideas of organizational creation, interaction and performance. Our goal in studying this body of work is to build our capacity to see patterns of organizing, to analyze complex organizational situations, and to develop and assemble effective means to deal with them. In addition to surveying major classical and modern works employing Institutional Theory, the course will prioritize building students' individual capacity to form an argument using Institutional Theory on a subject of their own choosing. We will discuss these projects as a group and one-on-one between professor and student. Students in prior courses have used this opportunity to develop a work for conference presentation or publication, and/or to advance their thesis.
We will begin the seminar with an overview of Organization Theory (OT) to place Institutional Theory within context, referencing population ecology, resource dependency theory and other major streams of research from the 1960s onward. We will then explore together major ideas of "New" Institutional Theory which arose in the 1970s drawing on characteristic earlier writings and theoretical perspectives. We will also consider Berger and Luckman's classic, The Social Construction of Reality (1967), as a conceptual basis on which Institutional Theory relies.
In the second section of the course, we will examine modern applications of Institutional Theory. The goal is to see how Institutional Theory offers solutions for complex organizational issues such as resource acquisition and growth, and how it links individual behavior to organizations and society as a whole. In addition, we will discuss where Institutional Theory is now. The class will consider postmodernism, particularly as it relates to discourse and discourse analysis as a researcher's approach and research technique. We will examine Social Construction as a related and foundational element to Institutional Theory, including discussion of Foucault's (1982) The Archeology of Knowledge & The Discourse on Language.
In both sessions we will integrate active, group and one-on-one discussion of your research work to look for ways Institutional Theory is relevant and could be applied. Please select one project or idea of interest to you to bring for discussion. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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- To understand the place of Institutional Theory and Social Construction within the literature of Organization Theory.
- To integrate key works of Institutional Theory and Social Construction into your intellectual repertoire.
- To be able to form an argument, prepare hypotheses and design a research approach using these ideas.
The course research proposal can be an original work or it can engage a project already ongoing. The final proposal submitted will vary in length depending on whether this is a new or continuing work for you. The proposal should deliver an argument using Institutional Theory, present a setting, and develop hypotheses. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| None |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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- Reading, reflection, summary writing
- Class discussion and discussion leadership
- One-on-one faculty-student meetings, as requested
- Preparation of draft research proposal integrating Institutional Theory based hypotheses
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| Face to face |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| Part 1
Required Research Articles :
Meyer and Rowan, 1977. Institutionalized organizations: Formal structure as myth and ceremony, American Journal of Sociology, 83: 340-63
Zucker, L.G. 1977. The role of institutionalization in cultural persistence. American Sociological Review, 42: 726-743.
DiMaggio and Powell 1983. The Iron Cage Revisited, American Sociological Review, 48: 147-160.
Leblebici, H. Salancik, G.R. Copay, A. and King, T. 1991. Institutional Change and the Transformation of Inter-Organizational Fields: An Organizational History of the U.S. Radio Broadcasting Industry.
Administrative Science Quarterly, 36: 333-363.
Required Book:
The Social Construction of Reality, Berger and Luckman, 1967. Anchor Books, ISBN: 0385058985.
Supplemental Reading Materials:
See Syllabus
Part 2 Required Required Research Articles:
Maguire, S., and Hardy, C. (2009). "Discourse and Deinstitutionalization: The decline of DDT."Academy of Management Journal, 52:1, 148.
Elsbach, K.D. & Sutton, R.I. 1992. "Acquiring organizational legitimacy through illegitimate actions: A marriage of institutional and impression management theories." Academy of Management Journal, 35: 699-738.
Suddaby, R., Elsbach, K.D., Greenwood, R., Meyer, J.W., Zilber, T.B. (2010). "Organizations and their institutional environments-bringing meaning, values, and culture back in: introduction to the special research forum."Academy of Management Journal, 53:1234-1240.
Ahl, H., Nelson, T. (2013). "The positioning of women entrepreneurs and their ventures through policy: A comparison of the U.S. and Sweden" (under review).
Postmodernism, Discourse and Foucault (Required):
Chan, A. & Garrick, J. Organization theory in turbulent times: The traces of Foucault's ethics. (2002). Organization, 9 (4), 683.
Foucault, M. (1982). The Archeology of Knowledge & The Discourse on Language, Vintage, reprint edition. You may want to acquire the book in the native French.
Supplemental Reading Materials:
See Syllabus
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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- In class participation and discussion leadership.
- One page summary sheets of three key ideas from each required reading that you found most interesting. Due in class as work is scheduled.
- A research proposal with hypotheses based in Institutional Theory and related to the setting and issues of your research focus due July 1.
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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| All readings will be in English and will draw from the leading organizational journals published in that language. Foucault can be read (of course) in the original French.
Due to the intensive meeting schedule of the course, it is important that students make arrangements to attend each session.
As possible, I suggest students begin the reading of the two required books as their schedule allows:
The Social Construction of Reality, Berger and Luckman, 1967. Anchor Books, ISBN: 0385058985.
Foucault, M. (1982). The Archeology of Knowledge & The Discourse on Language, Vintage, reprint edition. Students may want to acquire the book in the native French. |
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Contacts :
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| Teresa Nelson, Ph. D. : drteresanelson@gmail.com |
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