Celebrating Organization Theory

Abstract

In this paper, we respond to recent critiques about the state of organization theory that have characterized it as being anachronistic, overly theoretical, or lacking the right kind of theory. We argue that organization theory is extremely vibrant and highlight several areas where there are flourishing and generative developments -institutional logics, categorization, networks, performance feedback, and strategy-as-practice. We also note the growing internationalization of organization theory as exemplified in the shifting demography of the Organization and Management Theory division at the Academy of Management as well as at the European Group on Organization Studies. As engaged organization theory supporters and scholars, we additionally argue for a more balanced appreciation of not only the weaknesses in the field, but also its strengths, and urge a re-engagement in more productive conversations about the important role of theory and theorizing.

Personnel- and action control in gazelle companies in Sweden

“…Performance feedback theory also claims that negative conditions are typically alleviated in favor of past conditions (Greve 2003a). This notion of confidence is strongly rooted in behavioral theory and the idea that experience encourages leaders to interpret conditions similarly, especially if the past was a success (Lounsbury and Beckman 2015). Perceptions based on experience (Weber 2011) that help to form the current state are therefore significant for future performance (Audia et al 2000).…”

“…Performance feedback strongly claims that individuals behave according to the expected appraisals (Lounsbury and Beckman 2015). It further assumes that evaluations of past performance affect future performance (Bowen et al 2010;Greve 2003a, b) and that future performance is an effect of intentions (Luft and Shields 2001), future aspirations (Greve 2003a, b), the ability to convert, transform, and achieve performance goals (Lau 2015), and strength in innovative processes (Bowen et al 2010;Rosenbusch et al 2011).…”

“…Many of the variations in the existing studies originate from differences in the measurement of growth (Laitinen 2014) and the context (Alsharari et al 2015). The growth literature is therefore a mix of a variety of assumptions that originate from different fields of research (Lounsbury and Beckman 2015). Growth is one aspect of performance (Ittner and Larcker 1998).…”

Entrepreneurial practices in research-intensive and teaching-led universities

“…This allows the actors to achieve legitimacy and simultaneously protect strategic goals, while avoiding a cognitive conflict. Most of the studies in this area are performed at the organisational level, with the institutional logics scholars calling for more research on the individual level of analysis (Thornton et al 2013;Lounsbury and Beckman 2015).…”

The Emerging Retail Market in Myanmar - An Institutional Perspective of Foreign Retailers’ Market Entry Decisions

“…In their research, institutions are considered as the combination of government and social context, leading to the employment of two mature models, namely King et al's (1994) institutional framework and DiMaggio and Powell's (1983) institutional isomorphism. Since the 1970s, institutional theory continues to represent a prevailing and dynamic theoretical tradition (Lounsbury & Beckman, 2015), emphasizing "the relationship between organizations and the environment" (Huang & Sternquist, 2007: 614). Scott (1995: 33), offering a widely renowned definition of institutions, describes the latter as consisting "of cognitive, normative, and regulative structures and activities that provide stability and meaning to social behavior.…”