Can institutional theory be refuted, replaced or modified?
Can institutional theory be refuted, replaced or modified?
复制标题
DOI：
10.1108/ijoa-02-2019-1666
复制
发表时间：
2020-01-13
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
Gaidai, Tetiana
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Aksom, Herman;Zhylinska, Oksana;Gaidai, Tetiana
研究目的本文旨在论证原有的同构与脱钩的新制度理论是一个封闭的理论，不能被扩展、修改或反驳。通过分析这个前版本的制度理论和它的众多现代竞争对手（制度企业家精神，制度工作和制度逻辑理论）的结构，有人认为，这些替代理论表现出更少的解释力和预测力，并没有反驳或扩展他们的前辈。新的组织理论的兴起对经典制度理论的影响，除了限制其适用范围之外，没有其他作用。反过来，有一些原则和条件，未来的理论应该满足被接受为渐进的进步。设计/方法/方式-本文提供了一个回顾相关的组织和哲学文献的理论建设和科学进步的组织研究，并提供了一套原则和要求，这些新的理论，寻求挑战新制度主义。结果-作者表明，前制度理论满足两个主要标准，任何科学理论都应该符合以下它是有用的和可证伪的方面给予解释和预测，而在同一时间，明确规定什么可以观察到，什么不能;什么可以发生，什么是不可能发生的。现代制度理论不能证明这种品质，也不满足这些标准。此外，制度同构理论是一个封闭的理论，这意味着它不能被改变和修改，所有未来的理论应该发展他们的理论主张的其他领域的应用，同时他们应该解释所有的经验现象，制度理论成功地解释。独创性/价值-采用工具观的组织理论允许重建逻辑和轨迹的组织研究的演变，并捍卫其合理性和进步性。它还概述了现有的主导理论应该如何对待，新的理论应该如何挑战其局限性和盲点，以及应该满足哪些哲学和方法论标准。
Purpose This paper aims to demonstrating that the former new institutional theory of isomorphism and decoupling cannot be extended, modified or refuted as it is a closed theory. By analyzing the structure of this former version of institutional theory and its numerous modern competitors (institutional entrepreneurship, institutional work and institutional logics theories) it is argued that these alternative theories demonstrate even less explanatory and predictive power and do not refute or extend their predecessor. The rise of new organizational theories can have no other effect on classic institutional theory than to limit the domain of its applicability. In turn, there are a number of principles and conditions that future theories should meet to be accepted as progressive advancements. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides a review of relevant organizational and philosophical literature on theory construction and scientific progress in organizational research and offers a set of principles and demands for those new theories that seek to challenge new institutionalism. Findings The authors show that the former institutional theory satisfies two main criteria that any scientific theory should conform with following it is useful and falsifiable in term of giving explanations and predictions while, at the same time, clearly specifying what can be observed and what cannot; what can happen and what is not likely to occur. Modern institutional theories cannot demonstrate this quality and they do not satisfy these criteria. Moreover, institutional isomorphism theory is a closed theory, which means it cannot be intervened with changes and modifications and all future theories should develop their theoretical propositions for other domains of applications while they should account for all empirical phenomena that institutional theory successfully explains. Originality/value Adopting instrumental view on organizational theories allowed reconstructing the logic and trajectory of organizational research evolution and defends its rationality and progressive nature. It is also outlined how existing dominant theory should be treated and how new theories should challenge its limitations and blind spots and which philosophical and methodological criteria should be met.