Ubiquity and Legitimacy: Disentangling Diffusion and Institutionalization

• Published in: Sociological theory Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 27 - 53
• Main Authors: Colyvas, Jeannette A., Jonsson, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Wiley-Blackwell 01.03.2011; SAGE Publications; Blackwell Publishing Inc; Wiley; American Sociological Association
• Subjects: Bias; Business and economics; Business innovation; Business studies; Diffusion; Diffusion theory; Ekonomi; Fads; Företagsekonomi; History, theory and methodology; Innovation; Innovation adoption; Innovation diffusion; Innovations; Institutional theory; Institutionalization; Legitimacy; Methodology; Organizations; Research universities; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP; Social environment; Social influence; Social innovation; Social relations; SOCIAL SCIENCES; Social structure; Social structures; Social theory; Socialvetenskap; Sociologi; Sociology; Technological innovation; Technology transfer; Theory; Universities; Persistence; Methodology; Theory; Institutionalization; Relationship; Change; Legitimacy; Diffusion; Structure
• ISSN: 0735-2751; 1467-9558; 1467-9558
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9558.2010.01386.x

Diffusion and institutionalization are of prime sociological importance, as both processes unfold at the intersections of relations and structures, as well as persistence and change. Yet they are often confounded, leading to theoretical and methodological biases that hinder the development of generalizable arguments. We look at diffusion and institutionalization distinctively, each as both a process and an outcome in terms of three dimensions: the objects that flow or stick; the subjects who adopt or influence; and the social settings through which an innovation travels. We offer examples to flesh out these dimensions, and formulate testable propositions from our analytic framework that could lead to further theoretical refinement and progress.