Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony Export

@article{citeulike:661594, abstract = {Many formal organizational structures arise as reflections of rationalized institutional rules. The elaboration of such rules in modern states and societies accounts in part for the expansion and increased complexity of formal organizational structures. Institutional rules function as myths which organizations incorporate, gaining legitimacy, resources, stability, and enhanced survival prospects. Organizations whose structures become isomorphic with the myths of the institutional environment-in contrast with those primarily structured by the demands of technical production and exchange-decrease internal coordination and control in order to maintain legitimacy. Structures are decoupled from each other and from ongoing activities. In place of coordination, inspection, and evaluation, a logic of confidence and good faith is employed.}, author = {Meyer, John W. and Rowan, Brian}, citeulike-article-id = {661594}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2778293}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/2778293}, doi = {10.2307/2778293}, journal = {The American Journal of Sociology}, keywords = {organizations, sociology}, number = {2}, pages = {340--363}, posted-at = {2007-06-01 20:49:58}, priority = {2}, title = {Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2778293}, volume = {83}, year = {1977} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:661594 L3 - citeulike-article-id:661594 N2 - Many formal organizational structures arise as reflections of rationalized institutional rules. The elaboration of such rules in modern states and societies accounts in part for the expansion and increased complexity of formal organizational structures. Institutional rules function as myths which organizations incorporate, gaining legitimacy, resources, stability, and enhanced survival prospects. Organizations whose structures become isomorphic with the myths of the institutional environment-in contrast with those primarily structured by the demands of technical production and exchange-decrease internal coordination and control in order to maintain legitimacy. Structures are decoupled from each other and from ongoing activities. In place of coordination, inspection, and evaluation, a logic of confidence and good faith is employed. IS - 2 JF - The American Journal of Sociology EP - 363 TI - Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony VL - 83 SP - 340 KW - organizations KW - sociology AU - Meyer, John AU - Rowan, Brian PY - 1977/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2778293 ER -