Coercive Isomorphism and Institutional Critique: The Design of Compliance

This paper analyzes how institutions become more alike over time (isomorphism) and the rhetorical strategies that influence this process. The paper describes a case study of a peer-mentoring program at a large research university that faced significant delays due to isomorphic pressures exerted by institutional agents. Despite broad support and funding, the program was stalled by accounting staff invoking external and internal policies. Our analysis focuses on the role of legal policy statements in email signatures, demonstrating how these seemingly mundane artifacts reinforce organizational conformity and limit institutional critique. By highlighting the microlevel dynamics of institutional interactions, this study provides insights into the subtle ways power is maintained and offers strategies for individuals and small groups to navigate and potentially disrupt these forces. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of institutional isomorphism and underscores the importance of rhetorical techniques in shaping organizational behavior.