An Institutional Understanding of Organizations and Professions

From their first publication together in 1973, Bob Hinings and Royston Greenwood developed one of the most productive and influential academic partnerships in the history of organization studies. Over more than five decades, their work has shaped major research areas including local government, organizational change, professional service firms and institutional theory. An Institutional Understanding of Organizations and Professions brings together an international community of leading scholars who have worked with, and been heavily influenced by, Bob and Royston. Across a series of papers, these authors not only celebrate this extraordinary intellectual partnership but also draw some lessons from which, as individual academics and a field, we can draw upon.

The papers are divided into themes that map onto Hinings and Greenwood’s collective spheres of influence. In addition to their transformational work across local government, professional service firms, organizational change and institutional theory, the featured papers also explore the influence that Hinings and Greenwood have had on building both their own institution, the University of Alberta, and others around the world.

Reflecting on a remarkable academic partnership and its impact on the field, this volume provides fresh insight into the ideas, methods and community-building practices that have influenced generations of organizational researchers. It constitutes a tribute to two of the most insightful, productive, generous and kind individuals that any academic field has produced and presents observations that should influence academics everywhere.