The Structural Sources of Organizational Isomorphism: Some Reflections on Power and the Flow of Information in Organiza

1. The Structural Sources of Organizational Isomorphism: Some Reflections on Power and the Flow of Information in Organizations • Gary G. Hamilton • Department of Sociology and the Jackson School of International Studies

2. I. The link between sociology and study of organization • A. A quintessentially American topic • B. Social organization in the construction of self and society • C. The focus on the organization in society and economy

3. II. “The new institutionalism in organizational analysis” • A. The focus on a society of organizations

4. B. Two foundational statements • 1. John W. Meyer and Brian Rowan, “Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony” • 2. Paul J. DiMaggio and Walter W. Powell, “The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields.”

5. 3. The Concept of Isomorphism: “Isomorphism is the constraining process that forces one unit in a population to resemble other units that face the same set of environmental conditions.”

6. 4. DiMaggio and Powell’s “three mechanism” through which institutional isomorphism occurs within organizational fields • a. Coercive isomorphism • b. Mimetic isomorphism • c. Normative isomorphism

7. 5. Isomorphism results from an organization’s quest for legitimacy within an organizational field

8. C. The exteriority of organizational structure and form

9. III. Reflections on some missing elements in the new institutionalism • A. Organizational form without organizational substance

10. B. Three examples • 1. Imperial eunuchs and the president’s “men” • 2. The round table etiquette of Chinese manufacturing networks • 3. The associational structure of pre-Civil War American society

11. 1. Imperial eunuchs and the president’s “men” • Structured loyalties • Organizational structure follows the organizational roles • Roles are grounded in authority and the exercise of legitimate powers

12. 2. The round table etiquette of Chinese manufacturing networks • Reciprocity and control • Trust is embedded in the etiquette of social relationships • Fundamental equality, functional hierarchies

13. 3. The associational structure of pre-Civil War American society • Egalitarianism • The methodology to preserve Individualism and to create purposeful groups • Democratic authority

14. C. Authority, legitimacy, and the constitution of groups • 1. Misinterpreting the Weberian legacy • 2. The constraints of legitimizing one’s own power • 3. The power of obedience

15. D. The interiority of organizational structure and substance

16. IV. Conclusion: Information flows in organizations