The Same New Story? AI as an Accelerator of Institutional Isomorphism

• In Event: 20806 - Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace (Co-sponsored by Section on Organizations, Occupations and Work)

Abstract

This study examines the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an accelerator of institutional isomorphism in organizations. Applying DiMaggio and Powell's (1983) framework of coercive, mimetic, and normative isomorphism, we explore how AI adoption reshapes institutional pressures across sectors and countries. With its unique reliance on continuous learning and data-driven decision-making, we argue that AI accelerates institutional pressures more significantly than previous digital technologies as organizations seek to increase legitimacy, efficiency, and competitiveness in an evolving landscape.

This study conducts a systematic literature review, focusing on the interplay between regulatory demands, competitive emulation, and professional networks as key impact vectors. By systematically analyzing academic research, industry reports and policy documents, we develop a theoretical framework to explain how AI alters institutional pressures and fosters institutional isomorphism. To exemplify this framework, four organizations that use AI and are engaging in professional networks are examined.

By exploring the evolving landscape of institutional pressure in the age of AI, this study offers new insights into the tension between organizational conformity and differentiation. It provides a framework for future studies to empirically investigate the dynamics of AI-driven convergence.

Authors

• Franziska Hein-Pensel, Institut für Angewandte Informatik (InfAI) e. V.

• Sabine Hartig, InfAI (University Leipzig)

• Sebastian Schuhmann, Institute for Applied Informatics at the University of Leipzig

• Amit Kirschbaum, Institute for Applied Informatics at the University of Leipzi