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dc.contributor.authorAksom, Herman
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-29T11:13:45Z
dc.date.available2022-09-29T11:13:45Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.identifier.citationAksom, H. (2022). Entropy and institutional theory. <i>International journal of organizational analysis</i>, <i>Early online</i>. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-03-2022-3213" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-03-2022-3213</a>
dc.identifier.otherCONVID_150977870
dc.identifier.urihttps://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83386
dc.description.abstractPurpose Once introduced and conceptualized as a factor that causes erosion and decay of social institutions and subsequent deinstitutionalization, the notion of entropy is at odds with predictions of institutional isomorphism and seems to directly contradict the tendency toward ever-increasing institutionalization. The purpose of this paper is to offer a resolution of this theoretical inconsistency by revisiting the meaning of entropy and reconceptualizing institutionalization from an information-theoretic point of view. Design/methodology/approach It is a theoretical paper that offers an information perspective on institutionalization. Findings A mistaken understanding of the nature and role of entropy in the institutional theory is caused by conceptualizing it as a force that counteracts institutional tendencies and acts in opposite direction. Once institutionalization and homogeneity are seen as a product of natural tendencies in the organizational field, the role of entropy becomes clear. Entropy manifests itself at the level of information processing and corresponds with increasing uncertainty and the decrease of the value of information. Institutionalization thus can be seen as a special case of an increase in entropy and a decrease of knowledge. Institutionalization is a state of maximum entropy. Originality/value It is explained why institutionalization and institutional persistence are what to be expected in the long run and why information entropy contributes to this tendency. Contrary to the tenets of the institutional work perspective, no intentional efforts of individuals and collective actors are needed to maintain institutions. In this respect, the paper contributes to the view of institutional theory as a theory of self-organization.en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherEmerald
dc.relation.ispartofseriesInternational journal of organizational analysis
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
dc.subject.otherinstitutional theory
dc.subject.otherorganization science
dc.subject.otherentropy
dc.subject.otherinformation
dc.subject.otherinstitutionalization
dc.titleEntropy and institutional theory
dc.typearticle
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:fi:jyu-202209294739
dc.contributor.laitosKauppakorkeakoulufi
dc.contributor.laitosSchool of Business and Economicsen
dc.contributor.oppiaineBasic or discovery scholarshipfi
dc.contributor.oppiaineLaskentatoimifi
dc.contributor.oppiaineBasic or discovery scholarshipen
dc.contributor.oppiaineAccountingen
dc.type.urihttp://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle
dc.type.coarhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_2df8fbb1
dc.description.reviewstatuspeerReviewed
dc.relation.issn1934-8835
dc.relation.volumeEarly online
dc.type.versionacceptedVersion
dc.rights.copyright© Emerald Publishing Limited
dc.rights.accesslevelopenAccessfi
dc.subject.ysopysyvyys
dc.subject.ysokäsitteet
dc.subject.ysoorganisaatioteoriat
dc.subject.ysoinstitutionaalistuminen
dc.subject.ysoinstituutiot
dc.subject.ysoinformaatioteoriat
dc.subject.ysoentropia
dc.subject.ysoorganisaatiotutkimus
dc.format.contentfulltext
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p20306
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p2267
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p7815
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p11473
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p7569
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p14427
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p5009
jyx.subject.urihttp://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p7816
dc.rights.urlhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.relation.doi10.1108/IJOA-03-2022-3213
jyx.fundinginformationThe financial support by the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics is gratefully acknowledged.
dc.type.okmA1


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