Ups and Downs: The Role of Legitimacy Judgment Cues in Practice Implementation

51 Pages Posted: 11 Nov 2019 Last revised: 6 Dec 2019

See all articles by Anne Jacqueminet

Anne Jacqueminet

Bocconi University - Department of Management and Technology

Rodolphe Durand

HEC Paris - Strategy & Business Policy

Date Written: October 2, 2019

Abstract

We explore the way validity and propriety cues contribute to legitimacy judgments about a practice and explain whether the subunit of a large firm increases or decreases the implementation of this practice. Empirically, we examine the extent to which 65 subsidiaries of a multinational enterprise implemented three corporate social responsibility practices. Adopting a set-theoretic approach, we find that both validity and propriety cues are extremely relevant to the understanding of subunits’ implementation of practices over time. The endorsement of a practice in a subunit’s environment plays a particularly crucial role in the extent to which it is implemented, relative to authorization by the parent firm. Furthermore, subunits strongly rely on the active evaluation of the practice’s propriety, such that the consonance between the two propriety dimensions (strategic importance and value compatibility) is central to implementation increase, while dissonance between them can favor implementation decrease. By advancing our understanding of legitimacy judgment formation and practice implementation patterns, our study enriches explanations of organizational conformity and decoupling, and contributes to our understanding of how firms respond to multiple institutional demands.

Suggested Citation

Jacqueminet, Anne and Durand, Rodolphe, Ups and Downs: The Role of Legitimacy Judgment Cues in Practice Implementation (October 2, 2019). Academy of Management Journal, Forthcoming, Bocconi University Management Research Paper, HEC Paris Research Paper No. SPE-2019-1355, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3484775 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3484775

Anne Jacqueminet (Contact Author)

Bocconi University - Department of Management and Technology ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milan, MI 20136
Italy

Rodolphe Durand

HEC Paris - Strategy & Business Policy ( email )

Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, 78351
France

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