ABSTRACT
The objective in this and the next two chapters is to apply neoinstitutional theory to the theories of organizational behavior to determine which among them, if any, have become institutional ized, and thus to indicate something about the maturity level of organizational behavior at the present time. To achieve this objective, it has proved necessary to develop a new approach to measuring the institutionalization of the theories of the field. This chapter presents the back ground in institutional theory and in conformity theory needed to understand that approach. In the process, it provides rationales for hypotheses as stated in the “Conclusions” section.
