Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony
1977 · American Journal of Sociology · 10.1086/226550
Overview
An organisational neo-institutionalist route to formal structure, legitimacy, and decoupling.
Core Question
How can formal structures relate to institutionalised rules and legitimacy?
Central Argument
Formal arrangements can be institutionally significant without being identical to ongoing activity.
Theoretical Contribution
Provides a source for formal structure and possible decoupling.
Theory Relationships
- Institutional Theory — major development
Reading Focus
- Distinguish formal adoption from enacted practice.
- Do not label any document-practice gap decoupling without evidence.
Legal Access Path
- Open the authoritative bibliographic record — Use the linked publisher, DOI, university, journal, library, or institutional record to locate lawful access through a library or the rights holder.
Sources & verification
- VerifiedThe linked record verifies this work's bibliographic details and lawful access route. — Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized organizations: Formal structure as myth and ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340-363.
- Editorially ReviewedThe central argument, theoretical contribution, relationship, and reading emphasis are bounded Syntag editorial syntheses, not quotations or claims of universal consensus.
- Research GuidanceReading priorities should be adapted to the research question, prior knowledge, access, and disciplinary guidance.
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