The Strategic Use of Decentralized Institutions: Exploring Certification with ISO 14001 Management Standard

Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 1091-1106

Posted: 7 Oct 2010

See all articles by Andrew A. King

Andrew A. King

Questrom School of Business- Boston University

Michael Lenox

University of Virginia - Darden School of Business

Ann Terlaak

Wisconsin School of Business, UW-Madison

Date Written: 2005

Abstract

In this article, we respond to calls by previous researchers to clarify the function of decentralized institutions by analyzing the strategic motives of individual actors. We investigated an important type of decentralized institution, certified management standards, and theorized that firms use these institutions to reduce problems that might arise with exchange partners that lack information or fear opportunism. We tested this theory using the pattern of certification with the ISO 14001 management standard.

Keywords: self-regulation, standards, institutions

Suggested Citation

King, Andrew A. and Lenox, Michael and Terlaak, Ann K, The Strategic Use of Decentralized Institutions: Exploring Certification with ISO 14001 Management Standard (2005). Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 1091-1106, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1687952

Andrew A. King

Questrom School of Business- Boston University ( email )

Boston, MA 02215
United States

Michael Lenox (Contact Author)

University of Virginia - Darden School of Business ( email )

P.O. Box 6550
Charlottesville, VA 22906-6550
United States

HOME PAGE: http://faculty.darden.virginia.edu/LenoxM/index.htm

Ann K Terlaak

Wisconsin School of Business, UW-Madison ( email )

4261 Grainger Hall
975 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706-1481
United States
608-262-5227 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://bus.wisc.edu/faculty/ann-terlaak

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