Institutional Resilience in Extreme Operating Environments

Abstract

This study shows how institutional work contributes to institutional resilience in extreme operating environments (EOEs). The authors draw from a longitudinal analysis of the operations of Desjardins International Development (DID), a French Canadian nongovernmental organization (NGO) that, both before and after the major earthquake of 2010, supported the implementation of cooperative banking in Haiti. Building on a unique access to DID’s internal documents as well as on 49 interviews with DID employees, the authors highlight the ways in which political, technical, and cultural forms of institutional work triggered the emergence of social capital, which in turn supported the rise of new forms of institutional work that enabled institutional resilience. The results show how organizational activities focused on shaping institutions may have unintended effects that enable institutional resilience in EOEs, and demonstrate how the accumulation of institutional work by an organization contributes to the enhancement of its social capital.

Authentication as Institutional Maintenance Work

“…Institutional maintenance work refers to the proactive engagement of actors in the continuous existence of established institutions (Lawrence and Suddaby, ). Such work is particularly visible in the context of a pending threat of deinstitutionalization (Barin Cruz et al, ; Blanc and Huault, ) and under conditions of institutional complexity (Smets and Jarzabkowski, ). Neglect can also make institutions subject to gradual erosion (Dacin et al, ; Lawrence et al, ; Zucker, ).…”

“…Neglect can also make institutions subject to gradual erosion (Dacin et al, ; Lawrence et al, ; Zucker, ). We have limited insights into the gradual erosion of institutions (Barin Cruz et al, ; Lawrence et al, ; Lok and De Rond, ), and the collective ‘silent’ work of maintenance in which actors engage to prevent it (Micelotta and Washington, , p. 1139).…”

Shifting Infrastructure Landscapes in a Circular Economy: An Institutional Work Analysis of the Water and Energy Sector

“…Additionally, within the context of hospitals, Radaelli et al [66] focused on the institutional work of managers in implementing radical innovations. Cruz et al [67] analysed how mechanisms of institutional work enable NGO's working in extreme operating environments, such as post-earthquake countries, to increase social capital and institutional resilience.…”

Institutional entrepreneurship in transforming energy systems towards sustainability: Wind energy in Finland and India

“…Tracey and Philips [125] suggest three distinct strategies such as reducing institutional uncertainty, resolving institutional voids and constraints, and adapting solutions from other institutional contexts. Furthermore, Barin-Cruz et al [7] describe institutional strategies such as bridging global and local partners, securing operations, and mobilizing solidarity for mobilizing change. Additionally, Marquis and Raynard [83] discuss three distinct strategies relevant for emerging institutional conditions, such as relational, infrastructure building, and socio-cultural bridging.…”