Isomorphism, Diffusion and Decoupling: Concept Evolution and Theoretical Challenges

This chapter traces the evolution of the core theoretical constructs of isomorphism, decoupling and diffusion in organizational institutionalism. We first review the original theoretical formulations of these constructs and then examine their evolution in empirical research conducted over the past four decades. We point to unexamined and challenging aspects of this conceptual evolution, including the causal relationships among these core theoretical constructs. The chapter ends with a discussion of important theoretical frontiers to address in future research.