From practice to field

Michael Smets, Tim Morris, Royston Greenwood

Academy of Management Journal

(AMJ best Article winner, 2012)

Scheme of Presentation

• Mian Mustafa ShahIntroduction

• Shams UddinMethodology

• Nighat SaifCase Study

• Muhammad TaimurModel of Practice driven Institutional Change

• SafiaSummary

Introduction

Institutional change

Field driven change

Practice driven change

Existing Institutional Change Theories

Exogenous Approach

Endogenous Approach

Intra-Organizational

theory

• values

• Technological Changes

• Field level contradictions

• Political struggle

• Organizational Interests

• Values

Rationale for this Study

Present macro-level of analysis

“ Front line individuals as field level change originators” (Reay et al., 2006)

Absence of practice driven change model

Theme A practice Driven Institutional Change

Origin Mechanism Adaptation

Critique of Existing Theories

Methodology

Observations InterviewsArchival Materials

Research Design

• An embedded case study of Justitia

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Level 1

• Data Grouping• (a)As an Organization (b)Institutional context (c)Work

Level 2

• Cross Referencing• (a)Existing Practices (b) External Practices

Level 3

• Theme Development• Connecting the concepts

The Case study

Justitia• An Overview: History & Core business

Professional Logics

• English logics

• German logics

Practice Elements England Germany

Dominant Professional Logic

Client-Services logic Fiduciary logic

Role Identity Business-Oriented Technical Specialists

Key Referent audience Clients and Financial markets

Judiciary

Approach to legal problems

Pragmatic Forensic

Approach to drafting Comprehensive documenting

Selective Signposting

Hybridization

Practice Elements Anglo-German Hybrid

Dominant Professional logic Client-service oriented

Role Identity Business-oriented legal advisor

Key referent audience Clients and financial markets

Approach to legal problems Analytical informed improvising

Approach to drafting Customized blending

• England vs GermanyClash of the

logics

• Anglo-German logic Hybridization

• Prioritizing the key referentsPractice

Consolidations

• Acceptance by the field actors and regulatorsPractice to field

Radiations

Precipitating Dynamics (causes for change)

• British vs German

Novel Institutional Complexity

• Short decision time and meeting deadlines

Urgency

• Reputational risk and Financial risk

Consequences

Core Mechanisms

• localized attempts to cope with novel complexities and accomplish specific tasks

• Distributed, non strategic & experimental

1. Situated Improvising

• narrowing down the network

• who matters and whose logic should be apply?

2. Normative Networks Re-orientation

• Radiation of change from practice to the field

• Commonly through active participation, professional interaction, executive migration and media.

• But here it is quiet, unobserved and non visible

3. Unobtrusive Embedding

Enabling Dynamics

• collectivizing and formalizing disturbed improvisations into policies

• Building trust and efficient practices

• Vertical Organizational co-ordination

• Horizontal Organizational co-ordination

1. Organizational Co-ordination

2. Institutional distancing

• shielding workers from field level audience monitoring

• Detachment from existing norms and practices

• Clustering, teams with no prior attachmentsCosmopolitanism

• Internal sources

• External sourcesPositive feedback

• Assuring safety and fairness

• Breaking boundaries b/w firm and professionStructural Assurance

The Multi-Level Model

SummaryPractice-driven change is different in terms of initial locus, mechanism and its unfolding

Collision of logics calls for urgent tackling to prevent the harsh consequences

The practice-driven change is unfolded through situated improvising, normative network reorientation

This change radiates to the field through obtrusive embedding

This process is amplified by Organizational Co-ordination and Institutional distancing

Future InsightsInvestigate for other Organizations, different sectors and professions

Investigate practice-driven change under strong regulators

Check for more centralized and hierarchal organization

Future Insights

Thank You!!