Inside the Iron Cage: Organizational Political Dynamics and Institutional Changes in Presidential Selection Systems in Korean Universities, 1985-2002

• DOI: 10.2189/asqu.52.2.286
• Publication Date: 2017-02-15T08:53:19Z
• Authors: Tai-Young Kim; Dongyoub Shin; Hongseok Oh; Young-Chul Jeong
• Keywords: Organizational field; Organizational theory

This paper explores why and how organizations respond to external pressures for institutional change in terms of organizational political dynamics. The focus on dynamics is important understanding a period when multiple groups actors are involved the dynamic processes promoting each group's goals, interests, ideologies, logic. We propose social movement framework that focuses interactions between two sets actors—incumbents challengers—in an organization explain micro-foundation underlying decline emergence practices field. A longitudinal study changes presidential selection systems Korean universities illustrates incumbents (a board trustees at private university or government agents public university) challengers (faculty councils) shaped process replacing conventional appointment system with new direct voting during 1985 2002. general implications dynamics, change, differences responses pressures, micro foundations macro phenomena discussed.