Neo-institutional Perspective Research Articles

Institutional logics and organizational green transformation: Evidence from the agricultural industry in emerging economies

While the agricultural green transformation has garnered significant attention on the political stage as a crucial strategy for climate change mitigation and sustainable development, there remains a notable gap in our understanding of the prevailing logics that shape organizational decisions on this change in emerging economies. Drawing on the institutional logics perspective, this study explores the impact of state logic (manifested through green credit policy) and market logic (manifested through analyst attention) on agriculture-related firms' (ARFs') green transformation, as well as the moderating effects of organizational transparency and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) level. Using longitudinal data on 201 publicly listed ARFs in China from 2008 to 2020, we find that both state and market logics exert unique effects on facilitating the green transformation of ARFs. More notably, a complementarity between the two logics in offering value for ARFs’ green transformation is revealed. This complementary effect becomes more pronounced for organizations with a higher level of transparency or a superior ESG profile. Our study contributes to the neo-institutional perspective of organizational green transformation, a better understanding of conflicting institutional logics in emerging economies, and research on agricultural sustainability.

Circular economy adoption at the regional level: a neo-institutional perspective

ABSTRACT The lack of clear explanations about the impact of institutional pressures on adopting Circular Economy (CE) practices in regions is justified by the early stage of CE development. The conditions of CE implementation need to be explored to better understand the drivers of successful transformation. We employed a neo-institutional approach, which encompasses institutional isomorphism and regional absorptive capacity, to elucidate factors determining the extent of CE implementation at the regional level. We hypothesize that normative pressure leads to a more advanced adoption of new policy concepts. As a research method, we used content analysis and coding derived from institutional isomorphism and absorptive capacity, applied to all regional strategies in Poland between 2020 and 2021. The novelty of this study resides in its contribution to elucidating the regional implementation of CE concepts and discerning patterns of institutional adaptation. The study demonstrates that establishing a normative environment should precede the anticipation of adopting novel policy ideas.

Should end-users take their clothes off inside on a cold winter's day? Sustainability pressures on district heating professionals in Denmark

This research explores how district heating (DH) sector professionals /employees experience the low-carbon energy transitions-related change processes in the Danish heat supply sector. Enquiry draws upon mixed data collected among DH employees from 148 utilities. Geels’ triple embeddedness framework conceptualizes the connections between regime-level actor experiences of niche- and landscape-level pressures, sustainability imperatives, and the associated change processes. This neo-institutionalist perspective finds that the historically stable DH regime-level institutions are being destabilised. It also reveals the tensions and change inertia associated with, for example, sunk costs, infrastructural path dependencies, and professional culture. For the DH professionals, and regime-level actors, these destabilization processes challenge what were previously core regime-level professional practices, skills and taken-for-granted standards for a job well done. Indeed, professional identity and pride may be at stake. Paradoxically, the identified DH sector norms for stable, affordable, and invisible heat supply service provision may not necessarily motivate DH end-users /customers towards more sustainable heat-use behaviours: DH end-users in Denmark have come to expect these DH community heat supply provision as taken-for-granted societal goods, and the topics of space heating and thermal comfort are increasingly dissociated from consumption-related debates within public, and political realms. This DH case study shows how landscape, regime, and actor-level socio-technical trajectories interact, and it exemplifies actor-structure relationships in situations of regime stress. Perhaps it proves an exemplary case for exploring the lock-in mechanisms, inertia, restraints, and potentials of change-processes within also other societal domains and institutional realms.

The Basics of Home Office (Re)institutionalisation from the Perspective of Experiences from the COVID-19 Era

After COVID-19, the dynamics of home office development slowed down. According to the experiences of major companies, the problem is “fluctuating”. Research from the pandemic era covers various aspects and fails to present the concept of synthetic developmental conditions. Therefore, the issue of extending the organisation to home spaces was undertaken, identifying the determinants of the sustainable development of workplaces and organisations. The key is to create sustainable work systems, i.e., adapted to the environment, while being creative, critical, and productive. This study aims to establish the cultural determinants of home office development based on empirical research from the perspective of neo-institutionalism. For this purpose, the institutional logics were subject to operationalisation and the co-dependencies of metalogics with the types of organisational cultures assumed in the Cameron–Quinn OCAI model were established. The information was collected in a CAWI survey. The presented research procedure constitutes a methodical innovation. The results demonstrate a trend of changes in the dominating types of organisational culture from market control to cooperation and creation with a stimulating role of professional logics (occupation, organisation) from the perspective of working from home which brings sustainable management and business models. There is a subtle role of home logic and low employee readiness level. The adapted cultural approach demonstrates that increasing effectiveness of home office solutions requires development of integrated practices, which consider this type of work as separate and specialised. The past corporate failures and spontaneous methods cannot serve as grounds for strategies (long-term solutions). However, the research demonstrates a low level and limited range of employee impact on the organisational culture. It also indicates the need for additional analyses to determine the concept of designing workplaces in the Sustainability–Harmonisation trajectory.

How do changing institutional logics affect innovation? The cases of Online Electric Vehicle and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle in Korea

ABSTRACT The coevolution of technological capabilities and institutional arrangements is critical for the success of innovations. Yet, it remains unclear how actors’ shifting relations during institutional change affect innovation. The paper examines the dynamics in how actors shape the institution by integrating the institutional logics perspective with policy mix literature. Insights are drawn from the Online Electric Vehicle and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle cases in Korea, where involved stakeholders revealed contrasting identities and practices throughout the innovation stages. While both cases witnessed shifts in institutional logics, the repercussions on innovation differed depending on the characteristics of actors’ identity mix. Findings contribute to institutional theory by expanding the traditional dyadic perspective on incumbent and emerging institutional logics. We also add to the policy mix literature by introducing a neo-institutional perspective. The paper concludes by underlining how the overarching characteristics of the institutional mix trigger different coordination failures.

Weapon of choice: a neoliberal institutional perspective on Italy’s decision to procure a sixth generation fighter aircraft

ABSTRACT In 2018, Italy decided to join the British-led Team Tempest to develop a sixth generation fighter aircraft. This decision came at the expense of a rival project, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), led by France and Germany. The Italian decision to join Tempest raises a theoretical question overlooked by the existing literature: when states have different cooperative procurement options, what makes them choose one rather than another? The aim of the article is to provide an analytically informed account of the process that led Italy to join Tempest. In doing so, we adopt a neo-institutionalist perspective, as it allows us to identify the actors and motivations that made this outcome possible. We argue that due to the peculiar Italian bureaucratic-institutional setting, no domestic actor was solely responsible for the final decision. The final decision to join Tempest was the result of a coalition between the Armed Forces and defence firms.

Resolving the Grand Challenges in Public Administration

Comparative studies on the grand challenges in public administration in Africa are scarce. Using historical and sociological neo-institutionalist perspectives and multiple secondary datasets, this study explores and describes the grand politico-administrative challenges, the progress made, and the challenges hindering the achievement of six SDGs with regard to certain selected targets. It also seeks to find out how Ethiopia and Tanzania, and Africa in general should to respond to the grand challenges facing public administration in the age of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). The findings indicate that the deep-seated historical, sociological, and politico-administrative factors constrain the performance of public administration in Ethiopia and Tanzania. Second, despite the differences noted, the progress made in pursuit of SDG4, SDG5, SDG8, SDG9, and SDG16 is positive in both countries, but more so in Tanzania than in Ethiopia. However, the following challenges were reported: gender-based inequalities, the risk of a unsustainable GDP growth rate, and the lack of economic transformation. Moreover, the unprecedented digital divide and the consequences of Covid-19 to a large extent not only constrain the progress toward achieving the SDGs in both countries but also expose the countries to the possibility of losing the hard-won gains. Third, if not handled effectively, the 4IR will compound the challenges and erode the political sovereignty of Tanzania and Ethiopia, Africa, and Africans. To overcome the aforementioned challenges and to develop a new path that balances social, economic, and ecological goals in the two countries, there is a need to critically reform all the sectors, strategically and continuously invest in digital infrastructure, and introduce sector-fit capacity-building programs by taking into account the relevant politico-administrative contexts, and socio-economic structural and geo-spatial inequalities. The study contributes to the literature on developmental state in Africa.

‘Special offers for target groups that otherwise would not have been reached’

Using the perspective of neo-institutionalism and institutional logics, this article examines regional networks in the field of literacy and basic education. The goal of the analysis is to identify different forms of community-logics within two actor constellations. For this purpose, two regions are focused within a multiple-case study design. The empirical approach is based on interviews with experts from the field of literacy and basic education. The Interviews are evaluated qualitatively. The interview material will be used to identify different logics of communities in the regions and to examine the contexts in which actors orient themselves to the different logics. It becomes clear that communities in adult basic education are constituted on the basis of both geographical and content related aspects. By becoming a member of the communities, the actors benefit from various advantages. This collaboration ultimately enables the social participation and inclusion of the low-literate in the regions.

Assessment of formal proceedings and out-of-court reorganisation: results from a survey among turnaround professionals in Austria

This study analyses the decision criteria for a specific form of reorganisation in a creditor-friendly bankruptcy system such as that of Austria. From a neoinstitutional perspective, we present different forms of bankruptcy law and the specifics of reorganisation in Austria. Next, we show several distinctive criteria and influencing factors for formal reorganisation and workouts. We group these factors into constitutions and institutional settings, process and handling, and implementation of the reorganisation. Using a sample of 411 survey responses from turnaround professionals, our empirical study analyses the decision criteria for a specific form of reorganisation. We apply a multivariate approach comprising two-sided paired samples Wilcoxon tests to assess the derived hypotheses and a hierarchical cluster analysis. Our results indicate significant differences in the valuation of the two forms: the turnaround professionals rate public perception much higher for out-of-court reorganisation, whereas legal certainty is rated significantly better for formal proceedings. Regarding process and handling, transparency and the handling of blocking positions are arguments for formal reorganisation, whereas flexibility is valuated better for workouts. In terms of implementation, respondents see advantages for out-of-court reorganisation, as it facilitates the implementation of both financial and operational measures. Taxation, the handling of blocking positions, and the improvement of public perception were identified as key development aspects for the legal framework conditions of the various reorganisation forms.

Impact of corporate governance principles on women’s quality work environment attitudes: A neo-institutional perspective

Mainstream institutional theories and corporate governance studies are entwined with patriarchal business relationships. However, within the theories the gender factor and benefits of the institutionalization process and corporate governance principles in terms of women’s employment in organizations have not been fully investigated. In addition, whether corporate governance principles are an effective tool to keep women in working life has not received sufficient attention in the literature. The paper aims to explore the contribution of institutionalization process and corporate governance interaction to employment and working environment quality with respect to female employees in the labour market where patriarchal labour relations are dominant. To achieve this purpose, the authors designed a questionnaire to compare gender groups in organizations that have adopted the principles of institutionalization and corporate governance. The total of 506 employees actively working in organizations in Turkey participated in the survey. Respondents’ answers were analysed using the structural equation models in the SPSS statistical program. The research findings revealed that the institutionalization process has a partial mediation effect on women’s attitude to quality of work environment. On the other hand, it was determined that corporate governance principles have no moderator effect on women’s attitude to work environment quality. The findings demonstrate that as the transparency and professionalization levels increase, women tend to prefer the organizations more. Compared to men, female managers and assistants embrace transparency and professionalization as a distinguishing quality of an efficient organization. Since corporate governance principles strengthen women’s employment in organizations in terms of equal wages and career opportunities, managers need to consider these principles as a substantial element of a company’s activities.

BUMDesa Policy Innovation to Increase Village Authenticity in a Neo-Institutionalism Perspective

This study aims to identify policy innovations in BUMDesa and their contribution to increasing village original income (PADesa). This study uses exploratory qualitative methods through in-depth interviews with actors who are directly involved with BUMDesa Larasati and related external parties. The results of the research were then analyzed using the perspective of Neo-Institutionalism. This study found that the policy innovations formulated and implemented by BUM Desa Larasati were inseparable from the role of critical actors within the Village Head of Kendalbulur. The Village Head has full support from internal BUMDesa and the Village Consultative Body—in addition to interactions with external institutions such as the Tulungagung DPMD, Banking, and PT. POS, East Java Village BUM Clinic, makes it easy to make policies. Policy innovation has significantly increased PADesa in the last three years. BUM Desa Larasati is already a legal entity and is ready to compete with other agencies. For this reason, synergy is needed between OPD and the private sector regarding assistance to BUM Desa so that human resources and their existence are properly maintained.How to cite item: Irawan, Jairi, Bintoro Wardiyanto, and Erna Setijaningrum. “BUMDesa Policy Innovation to Increase Village Authenticity in a Neo-Institutionalism Perspective.” Jurnal Cakrawala Hukum. 14 no. 1 (2023):9-20. DOI: 10.26905/idjch.v14i1.9871.

Institutional factors and CSR reporting in a developing country: Evidence from the neo-institutional perspective

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An analysis of the coping strategies of small-scale female entrepreneurs in Harare, Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT This article analyses the strategies Zimbabwean women use to help them manage their small-scale businesses in Harare. Based on three focus groups as well as semi-structured interviews with the same respondents (n = 21), we consider the advantages and disadvantages conferred on the women by their social capital. The women networked to create rotating credit associations (ROSCAs) to generate working capital. They devised several ingenious mechanisms to reduce the risks involved in contributing money to a common fund. They tried to overcome collective action problems by maximising both confidence and trust. Social capital facilitated their agency in a disempowering context while at the same time exposing them to the free riding behaviour of in-laws. Finally, the social networks of these women are not independent of the social networks of other, better-connected women with whom they are in competition, which points to a weakness of social capital and neo-institutionalist perspectives.

Institutional Environment Pressures Perceived by Bilateral Development Cooperation Agency's Constituents

Public organisations have rarely been the subjects of neo-institutional research. Intra-organisational behaviour has also been under-researched. This study examined how four distinct groups of Bilateral Development Cooperation Agency's staff perceive institutional environment pressures from home and host countries. One-hundred thirty-one valid responses obtained through an online survey were analysed. Staff in both the headquarters and overseas offices felt a powerful home country accountability pressure. This tendency is prominent for management staff. The test results, as seen through the lens of a neo-institutional perspective, suggest that overseas office staff prioritise accountability to home country stakeholders over that to host country stakeholders.

Protest events as institutions: stakeholder perceptions of the changing role of Serbia's EXIT festival

PurposeThis research explores how protest events can change and develop over time, through an analysis of stakeholder perceptions of the EXIT festival in Serbia. In doing this, it builds on previous research into protest events from a critical events studies perspective and has implications for the management and understanding of events linked to social movements.Design/methodology/approachThis research took a neo-institutionalist perspective and is based on 18 stakeholder interviews, which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Purposive sampling in the highly-networked city of Novi Sad, Serbia, allowed for the inclusion of diverse participants from politics, NGOs, media and the festival itself.FindingsThe findings reveal that the EXIT festival has departed significantly from its original protest roots. Although it is now perceived as part of the dominant political culture in Serbia, it still has the potential to campaign on issues of relevance to the region, which is unrealised. This research demonstrates that the neo-institutionalist perspective can offer fresh insights for research into protest events. Taking this perspective suggests practical implications for the managers of events with protest roots and for social movements seeking to use protestival-style methods to achieve social change.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new theoretical perspective on protest events and proposes a new model that can be used in future research into protest events that persist over time. It also suggests implications for the management and development of protest events within social movements.

When a Ban Is Not a Ban: Institutional Work and the Russian Doping Scandal

There are fewer cases of such blatant acts to defy and subsequent heroic efforts to rearrange institutional norms than the Russian doping scandal. In adopting a neo-institutional perspective, the authors theorize the scandal as a case of attempted but failed institutional disruption. More specifically, the authors draw upon the institutional change literature and the institutional work perspective to explain the key events surrounding actors’ response to the scandal. The analysis utilized Gioia’s methodological approach to examine secondary empirical data. Findings reveal how stakeholders circumvented traditional governance structures in an attempt to disrupt institutional arrangements, but despite this, much of the preexisting institutional infrastructure has remained intact. The authors explain this outcome, in part, as a consequence of the counter-institutional work of key governing agencies and other actors to maintain the status quo within international sport.

Le développement du Mouvement Desjardins dans la première moitié du XXe siècle au Québec : perspective et rétrospective néo-institutionnelles

Cet article vise à mettre en lumière et à appréhender à partir d’une approche historique et néo-institutionnaliste inductive, comment le développement de l’économie du Québec, entre le début et le milieu du XXe siècle, marqué par l’interaction entre le catholicisme social, le corporatisme et l’émergence du mouvement coopératif, notamment l’essor du Mouvement Desjardins, s’est accéléré pour permettre de combler le retard socioéconomique du Québec de l’époque. Cet éclairage sociohistorique expliquant la formation d’un tissu économique coopératif permet d’élaborer les assises d’une notion de réserve économique (“economic slack”) et d’attractivité au sentier (“path attraction”).

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – Building capacities for the use of big data algorithm systems (BDAS) in early crisis detection

Public sector organizations at all levels of government increasingly rely on Big Data Algorithmic Systems (BDAS) to support decision-making along the entire policy cycle. But while our knowledge on the use of big data continues to grow for government agencies implementing and delivering public services, empirical research on applications for anticipatory policy design is still in its infancy. Based on the concept of policy analytical capacity (PAC), this case study examines the application of BDAS for early crisis detection within the German Federal Government—that is, the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) and the Federal Ministry of Defence (FMoD). It uses the nested model of PAC to reflect on systemic, organizational, and individual capacity-building from a neoinstitutional perspective and allow for the consideration of embedded institutional contexts. Results from semi-structured interviews indicate that governments seeking to exploit BDAS in policymaking depend on their institutional environment (e.g., through research and data governance infrastructure). However, specific capacity-building strategies may differ according to the departments' institutional framework, with the FMoD relying heavily on subordinate agencies and the FFO creating network-like structures with external researchers. Government capacity-building at the individual and organizational level is similarly affected by long-established institutional structures, roles, and practices within the organization and beyond, making it important to analyze these three levels simultaneously instead of separately.

Entrepreneurial exit intentions in emerging economies: a neoinstitutional perspective

Current research has shown that entrepreneurial exit is driven by individual- and firm-level antecedents. We draw from neoinstitutional theory and propose that contextual factors affect family succession intentions as opposed to family-external exit intentions and theorize how regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive institutional pillars affect exit intentions in the context of transition economies—a special case of emerging economies with no path dependence related to an entrepreneurial exit—characterized by institutional voids, which are filled in by the national culture. We argue and find—analyzing a sample of 222 Polish SME founders’ survey responses—that labor market development decreases, normative pressure of reference groups increases, and paternalistic leadership style decreases family succession intentions. This study contributes to the literature about entrepreneurial exit, family firm succession, and neoinstitutional theory.

Multi-level Governance in Centralized State? Evidence from China after the Territorial Reforms

China has long been considered a centralized country. Over the last 30 years, several reforms have gradually transferred important powers to local levels, particularly counties. The article analyzes this evolution based on a field study in two provinces, Zhejiang and Sichuan. The hypothesis is that the transfer of initiatives has become a new way of ‘steering’ counties’ identities in China. This article is based on an analysis from two perspectives. The first is an institutional perspective concerning financial, administrative, and political reform in China; the second is a neo-institutional perspective that examines counties’ identities and the role county-level actors play in territorial development and intergovernmental relations within their provinces.