Management and Organization Research on Both Sides of the Atlantic: The Case of New Institutional Theory

Abstract

This study compares the neo-institutional studies published by researchers in North American institutions in leading management and organization journals based in North America with those published by researchers in European institutions in leading management and organization journals based in Europe. The comparison is based on methodological preferences employed in studies that reveal differences in researchers' approaches to organizational analysis in the two geographic regions and tendencies to reference prominent European thinkers, referred to as "European-ness." The findings confirm significant differences in methodological approaches and referencing of prominent thinkers in the neo-institutional studies conducted by academics in both geographic regions. The findings indicate that dominant research traditions in those geographies shape theories adopted in different geographies.

Keywords

• comparative management and organizational studies
• neo-institutional theory
• method
• european-ness in organization studies
• translation