Institutional pressures and the diffusion of organisational innovation: evidence from Brazilian firms

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to present empirical evidence on the influence of institutional pressures and the role of legitimacy when it comes to the diffusion of organisational innovations. Based on institutional and organisational innovation theory, three types of institutional pressures were measured: mimetic, normative and coercive. Using data from over 17.000 Brazilian companies collected between 2008 and 2014, statistical analysis demonstrated that mimetic pressures had no influence on the diffusion of organisational innovations; that the main force behind the diffusion of organisational innovations was normative institutional pressures; and that coercive pressures had no impact on the diffusion of organisational innovations in general or on green innovations specifically. These results contradict previous empirical research and the current understanding of institutional pressures and organisational innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• Organisational innovation
• institutional pressures
• legitimacy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Matheus Graciani dos Santos. Master and PhD Student in Business Administration at the School of Economics, Business and Accounting of the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP). Graduated in International Relations from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP).

Felipe Mendes Borini. Associate Professor at the University of São Paulo (FEA/USP) and Professor at FIA Business School. PhD in Business Administration from the University of São Paulo (FEA/USP). Master e Graduated in Business Administration from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC/SP).

Rafael Morais Pereira. Master and PhD Student in Business Administration at the School of Economics, Business and Accounting of the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP). Professor in Business Administration at Ibirapuera University (UNIB) and Professor at FAEESP. Graduated in Business Administration from the Federal University of Viçosa.

Muhammad Mustafa Raziq. Associate Professor at the National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. He has a PhD in Strategic Management from Massey University, New Zealand.