Pouvoir. Une analyse par les institutions

Institutional researchers have recently paid more attention to power. Yet, most of these works consider actors and the way they can manipulate institutions. This paper offers another approach by focusing on institutions. We argue that the institutionalization process is a process whereby practices, tools and patterns that are institutionalized acquire some power to shape actors’actions. We distinguish three dimensions of power, episodic power, domination and control that correspond to three steps of the institutionalization process. Once taken for granted, institutions are enforced by actors rather than manipulate by them in a strategic way. We discuss the implications for research in organizations as settings where multiple such institutionalized practices exist and possible connection with critical social theory.