Institutions and Organizations
Ideas, Interests, and Identities
- W. Richard Scott - Stanford University, USA
The best and most comprehensive analysis of the relationship between institutional theory and the study of organizations!
Institutions & Political Behavior | Organizational Theory | Sociology of Organizations
Key Features:
- Elaborates on the three pillars of institutions as part of a larger framework and sheds light on the interplay between institutions and social systems
Includes a detailed discussion between three differing explanations and approaches of institutionalization—economic, sociological, and neo-institutional scholars in organizational studies
- Examines how symbols, relations, routines, artifacts, and other carriers transmit institutional arrangements across time and space
- Devotes a chapter to the theoretical and practical significance of organization fields
Emphasizes the best and most recent theoretical and empirical contributions in each chapter
“This book offers a comprehensive synthesis of previously divergent theoretical perspectives in the study of institutions and organizations. Concise, clear, and insightful, the book is the best short introduction to institutional theory in general and the contributions made particularly by sociologists. This book also contributes to the construction of general tools for studying institutions and organizations by providing comprehensive analytic concepts and frameworks. . . . It will be one essential tool for my research and also my coursework.”
“Very well organized and logical flow of the chapters. . . . The author is very knowledgeable about the literature and does an effective job of integrating it into a framework for analysis. . . . I think it is one of the most comprehensive books on institutional theory.”
“This text is an excellent example of how a theoretical framework can be used to bring order to a complex field of study. The framework is supported with theory and can be used by students and practitioners to better understand their organizations.”
“. . . [I]t is the key overview text in the institutional field.”
“. . . [G]ood literature on institutional theory. . . . Keep up with the good work.”
The book offers readers a thought-provoking discussion of the relationship between institutions and organizations and how this impacts studies of the emergence of agency-driven strategies based on creative ideas, changing interests and multilayered identities. Perhaps one of the greatest contributions of the book, however, is that it pays homage to a holistic approach in international business studies, thus identifying the way forward for the next generation of theoretical enquiries in this area. This reviewer can recommend this book in the strongest terms possible. It provides a highly rewarding and provocative journey into new roads within international business studies as well as within social science in general.
this will be one of the recommended books for comparative business and management course. thanks
The book offers a good insight on the new institutionalism, albeit of a specific, Scott's version. I am satisfied to see some introduction of institutional work - new-institutionalism - arguments that nicely introduces the topic of agency. In my view, this is a good start and more discussion of institutional entrepreneurship and institutional work - something that my students were privy to and would be expected to develop knowledge of - would be highly warranted.
I very good book which is well written. This book sets out a great foundation in understanding Organizations and Institutions. For our students who are looking at Institutional Theory and organizations, we highly recommend this as essential reading, however, for other students who are not so interested in the topic, we recommended it but categorize it as supplemental to our course.
Currently reviewing a wide set of literature in order restructure the entire course. Scott is a well know scholar and I have heard several positive reviews on this book.