Which Iron Cage? Endo- and exoisomorphism in Corporate Venture Capital Programs

Abstract

Through an inductive study of six corporate venture capital programs, we unravel how new organizational units resolve competing forces from two different institutional environments. The data suggest that the organizational structure of units that enter a new environment depends on whether they “focus their isomorphism” internally toward the parent (“endoisomorphism”) or externally toward the industry (“exoisomorphism”). The focus of isomorphism depends on whom the units seek legitimacy with and on the professionalization of their top management teams. We discuss implications of the findings for institutional theory, corporate venture capital, and corporate venturing more generally.