Fools Breaking Out: The Role of Symbolic and Material Immunity in Explaining Institutional Nonconformity

Corporate Social Responsibility in Challenging and Non-enabling Institutional Contexts: Do Institutional Voids matter?

“…In our attempt to explore these concerns further, we note that the literature on comparative CSR and particularly the budding literature on CSR in developing In this regard, insights from Lepoutre and Valente (2012) are helpful in moving away from existing studies, which mainly examine how the governance function of CSR is undermined in weak contexts, to exploring how firms pursue and achieve responsible business practices in developing economies marred by institutional voids. As such we attempt to answer the question: why and how might local firms pursue CSR practices in weak institutional contexts?…”

“…4 Institutional voids here represent situations where important institutional arrangements needed to support markets (often 'western capitalist institutions') are either absent or too weak to perform in the same manner as seen in developed western economies. However, institutional voids may further create an opportunity for substitution by other institutional arrangements or a deviation by outliers from the institutional normative constraint (Mair and Marti, 2009;Lepoutre and Valente, 2012 (Fidelity Bank, 2014). The bank maintains presence in the major cities and commercial centers of Nigeria and is reputed for integrity, professionalism, quality, stability of its management, and staff training (Fidelity Bank, 2014).…”

“…For instance, the bank subscribes to the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles (NSBP) as well as the Equator Principles in managing environmental and social risks in its own undertakings as well that of the clients it finances (Fidelity Bank 2014). 12 One can argue that the global sustainability movement is a quest for harmony, connectivity, security, inclusion and equity (Gladwin et al, 1995;Lepoutre and Valente, 2012) -a quest which is very much in consonance with the local norm of communal existence, as well as with the bank's private morality and sense of fairness. As expressed by the Group Head of Marketing Communications:…”

Children Without Bruised Knees: Responding to Material and Ideational (Mis)alignments

“…In such ambiguous situations, organizations are inclined to exercise some level of strategic choice, because more than one course of action may be considered 'appropriate'. In this way the taken-for-granted character of institutional mandates is challenged, as it makes actors aware of alternative courses of actions (Clemens & Cook, 1999;Dorado, 2005;Friedland & Alford, 1991;Greenwood, Raynard, Kodeih, Micelotta, & Lounsbury, 2011;Lepoutre & Valente, 2012;Oliver, 1991;Pache & Santos, 2010;Seo & Creed, 2002). However, one could ask whether there are specific institutional requirements that constrain the set of strategic responses as identified by Oliver (1991).…”

“…Next to being actively shaped by institutional pressures, these same physical objects also transfer meaning, norms and values imposed by institutional requirements, because physical objects embody prevailing ideas, beliefs, norms and values (Barley, 1986;Jones & Massa, 2013;Orlikowski, 2000;Scott, 2008). Nevertheless, the 'material side' of institutions has received far less attention from institutional scholars who predominantly focused on symbolic aspects Lepoutre & Valente, 2012;Orlikowski & Scott, 2008;Scott, 2008).…”