Technology as a Fourth Institutional Pillar: Rethinking Digital Transformation in Judicial Systems

Abstract This TREO talk proposes an original theoretical contribution to Institutional Theory by advancing the idea of technology as a fourth institutional pillar, alongside Scott’s (2014) regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive pillars. It argues that in digitally transforming sectors such as the judiciary, technology is no longer merely a tool subject to institutional control but an autonomous structuring force that shapes rules, norms, and collective meaning systems. Drawing from cross-national examples in Ghana, Estonia, and Brazil, the talk illustrates how AI and blockchain are embedded with normative assumptions and epistemic authority, actively reshaping institutional legitimacy and public perceptions of justice. The proposal builds on recent literature on digital governance and institutional change, addressing a gap in conceptualising technology as an institutional actor. The theoretical claim is grounded in a structured literature synthesis and exploratory case illustrations, not a complete empirical study. In presenting this work, the author seeks feedback on: (1) the viability and abstraction level of the proposed fourth pillar, (2) its applicability across sectors beyond justice, and (3) how it might be refined to avoid technological determinism. The session invites critical engagement with this emergent lens and discussion of its broader implications for IS research.