Organization and Management Theory OMT

Connecting Rigor and Relevance in Institutional Analysis

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL, June, 3-4, 2013

CALL FOR PAPERS/ABSTRACTS

Over the past three years, the ABC Network has held a series of conferences
on institutional theory (see www.cbs.dk/ABC for details), addressing
important topics such as agency in interpretive approaches, institutional
emergence and institutional logics. In this conference, we aim to tap into
that momentum, holding a conference focused on a significant critique of
institutional theory – practical relevance. That is, while it is recognized
that institutional theory encompasses a rigorous set of tools and mechanisms
for understanding changes in firms’ external environments, such tools are
not as relevant for helping practitioners address important problems and
issues.

The time is ripe for such a conversation because contemporary societies are
struggling with reforming deeply rooted systems, such as financial,
educational and health care systems. Institutional theory can contribute to
understanding how change unfolds and can be shaped in such domains at both
organizational and institutional levels. The conference will focus on how
institutional theory can be mobilized to help understand and manage such
organizational and institutional dynamics.

For this conference, we explicitly look for papers that aim to show how
institutional analysis can both be scientifically rigorous and also provide
a relevant perspective on leadership, managerial action, and organizational
functioning. Some possible areas of inquiry include:

• The emergence and institutionalization of new organizational
practices, such as diversity management and corporate social responsibility,
to address longstanding social and economic problems. How are these
practices enacted by corporations? Are these authentic attempts by
corporations to “do good,” or mainly window dressing?

• Policymaking and reform implementation at the state and global
levels. For example, how do organizations and social movements influence
political processes, and what effect does this have on the structure of
markets and organizations? What are the implications of the rise of
multinational corporations on the transnational political stage?

• The development of novel organizational forms to address societies’
challenges. For example, we are witnessing the rise of hybrid organizations
which are neither typical corporations nor typical nonprofits but combine
elements of the two. Where and when are these organizations most effective?
How stable are they over time?

• The influence that technological changes have on organizations and
the organization of work. For example, how have new organizing capabilities
created by technological advances influenced the development of new
practices such as collaborative product development and distributed
innovation? What are the implications for organizational and managerial
action?

We are also open to other topics that examine the connection between
organizations and institutional change more generally. We encourage
methodological and theoretical diversity including quantitative and
qualitative studies as well as studies that take a multi-level approach
connecting organizational processes with the broader institutional
environment.

Deadlines
Abstract submission (approximately 500 words): October 15, 2012
Notification of acceptance: December 15, 2012
Submission of full paper (maximum 8,000 words): April 1, 2013

Please send submissions to Julie Battilana (jbattilana@hbs.edu) and Chris
Marquis (cmarquis@hbs.edu) and cc: Tom Barrow (tbarrow@hbs.edu)

Venue
The workshop will be held at Harvard Business School

Organizers
Julie Battilana (jbattilana@hbs.edu), Shon Hiatt (shiatt@hbs.edu), Mukti
Khaire (mkhaire@hbs.edu) and Chris Marquis (cmarquis@hbs.edu).

Advisory committee
Eva Boxenbaum (Copenhagen U.), Frank Dobbin (Harvard U.), Mary Ann Glynn
(Boston College), Royston Greenwood (U. of Alberta), Ranjay Gulati (Harvard
U.), Rakesh Khurana (Harvard U.), Michael Lounsbury (U. of Alberta), Jesper
Strandgaard (Copenhagen U.), and Michael Tushman (Harvard U.).