Abstract
This article synthesizes the large but diverse literature on organizational legitimacy, highlighting similarities and disparities among the leading strategic and institutional approaches. The analysis identifies three primary forms of legitimacy: pragmatic, based on audience self-interest; moral, based on normative approval: and cognitive, based on comprehensibility and taken-for-grantedness. The article then examines strategies for gaining, maintaining, and repairing legitimacy of each type, suggesting both the promises and the pitfalls of such instrumental manipulations.
Keywords
LegitimacyStrategic planningInstitutional theoryBusinessManagementSociologyPolitical sciencePublic relationsEconomicsMarketingPoliticsLaw
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Publication Info
- Year
- 1995
- Type
- article
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 571-610
- Citations
- 12320
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Mark C. Suchman
(1995).
Managing Legitimacy: Strategic and Institutional Approaches.
Academy of Management Review
, 20
(3)
, 571-610.
https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1995.9508080331
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.5465/amr.1995.9508080331