“Institutional Work” for What? Problems and Prospects of Institutional Theory

Abstract

The problems and prospects currently facing Institutional Theory are addressed by scrutinizing recent proposals for focusing upon ‘institutional work’ in a way of that promises to overcome some limitations of its “old,” “neo,” and “entrepreneurialist” incarnations. Current proposals to pay closer attention to ‘institutional work’ are seen to reproduce the dualism of individual (agency) /institution (structure) as they invite a further flip-flop between these poles, To escape this cycle, a start can be made by incorporating into Institutional Theory a critically reflexive appreciation of the ‘individual’ as an institution. Such a move is consistent with a contemporary interest in bridging institutional and critical scholarly traditions. In constructing this bridge, the challenge is to advance scholarship in a direction that, being collaborative rather than predatory, does not obfuscate or domesticate the emancipatory intent of critical analysis.