Building a Taxonomy of Hybridization: An Institutional Logics Perspective on Societal Impact

Abstract

The hybridization movement reflects the shift and convergence of market-focused corporations on the one hand and social oriented organizations on the other towards more integrated value-creating hybrid arrangements. Hybridity is usually defined as the combination of two different and usually contradicting institutional logics. However, the hybridity literature is incongruent, inconsistent and seemingly addressing different spheres of hybridity, rendering the institutional construct ineffective for empirical analysis between organizations of varied natures. The purpose of this study is to arrive at a conceptualization of hybridity from an institutional perspective that allows for empirical analysis and comparison of the hybrid nature of organizations across time and contexts. Adopting a taxonomical approach based on the societal triangle, a systematic review (n = 109) is conducted to identify characteristics, issues and challenges of eight archetypical hybrid and non-hybrid organizations. Consequently, the authors propose a thematic mapping of relevant issues into five clustered themes. This thematic map can be helpful in guiding the analysis of and comparison between a broad range of different hybrid organizations. This study adds to the existing definitional and terminological debate in the hybridity literature by shifting the focus from a typological classification towards a taxonomical approach of hybridity.