Institutional Work: A Review and Framework based on Semantic and Thematic Analysis

Abstract

Institutional work as a concept has evolved and diffused beyond roots in management and organizational studies since it was first defined by Lawrence and Suddaby (2006). A diverse literature and recent criticism call for an extensive review of the field. We conducted a systematic review of 452 peer-reviewed articles in 185 different journals published from March 2006 to December 2019. Semantic analysis revealed changes in topics over time, the rise of institutional maintenance, and a focus on individuals and agency. Using thematic analysis, we inductively categorized the claimed contributions to institutional work as theory combining, actors, contexts, institutional work types, representations, and methodology. The findings led us to develop an integrative conceptual framework for future institutional work study built around setting, motivations, types, and outcomes. We visualized the discourse around institutional work, growth of key themes from early theorizing, and an original process model.

The dual institutional work of Lyra's Walk: partisan violence and peace protest in Northern Ireland

“…Ethnography is an approach based on “sustained, close-up observation of particular people and institutions in order to attend to how and why agents act, feel, and think” (Locke, 2011, p. 614) [1]. The approach is well established in the study of institutional work (Gidley and Palmer, 2021; Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006). We used ethnography as a way to capture “extreme institutional moments in which institutional dynamics are more evident” (Zilber, 2020, p. 14).…”

“…is] incompatible with the formal rules: to follow one rule, actors must violate another" (Helmke and Levitsky, 2004, p. 729). Institutional work research can consider formality although it rarely does (Gidley and Palmer, 2021). The original taxonomy included several types (e.g.…”

“…Subsequently, the concept of institutional work attempts to bridge the structure-agency divide by conceptualizing social actors as performing work within, against and for institutions (Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006). The focus was on action, but some argue for considering the (lack of) impact of institutional work (Gidley and Palmer, 2021).…”

“…The GFA formalized disarmament (Murphy et al ., 2021); however, the social aspects of partisan violence were allowed to continue as a “competing institution [… is] incompatible with the formal rules: to follow one rule, actors must violate another” (Helmke and Levitsky, 2004, p. 729). Institutional work research can consider formality although it rarely does (Gidley and Palmer, 2021). The original taxonomy included several types (e.g.…”

Suffering, recovery and participant experience in a video game development accelerator

“…Both the game jam and science accelerator provided additional perspective on the participant experience in other accelerators. Interested readers can find additional methodological information elsewhere (see Gidley, 2021; Gidley and Palmer, 2022).…”