From statistical control via quality systems to total quality management -The institutionalization of a new management approach

The theory of new institutionalism has become a prominent approach in organ izational analysis. Despite its prominence institutional theory has a numbe r of shortcomings, e.g. the fact that the process of institutionalization r emains unexplained. The present paper suggests that institutional theory sh ould be combined with the theory of resource mobilization, which was develo ped in the study of social movements. It argues that the theory of resource mobilization is especially suitable to serve as a complementary approach t o institutional theory in that it explains the emergence of institutions an d institutionalized elements.