Patrick Haack - Böcker

The notion of microfoundations has received growing interest in neo-institutional theory (NIT) along with an increasing interest in microfoundational research in disciplines such as strategic management and organizational economics. However, despite reference to the same term, there are decisive differences in how microfoundations have been addressed across different disciplines. The aim of this double volume is to explore in more depth what the microfoundations of institutions are and what it takes to actually develop sound microfoundations. To this end, this double volume sets off by exploring the recent well-spring of micro-level research in NIT (i.e., research on the individual, practice and group level). While intimately related, micro-level research and microfoundations are not necessarily the same thing. Hence, the double volume seeks to bring to the fore different perspectives in micro-level research in order to tease out what these perspectives imply for building microfoundations, where they converge and where they diverge.

The notion of microfoundations has received growinginterest in neo-institutional theory (NIT) along with an increasing interest inmicrofoundational research in disciplines such as strategic management andorganizational economics. However, despite reference to the same term, thereare decisive differences in how microfoundations have been addressed acrossdifferent disciplines.The aim of this double volume is to explore in moredepth what the microfoundations of institutions are and what it takes toactually develop sound microfoundations. To this end, this double volume setsoff by exploring the recent well-spring of micro-level research in NIT (i.e.,research on the individual, practice and group level). While intimatelyrelated, micro-level research and microfoundations are not necessarily the samething. Hence, the double volume seeks to bring to the fore differentperspectives in micro-level research in order to tease out what theseperspectives imply for building microfoundations, where they converge and wherethey diverge.

Beyond Microfoundations and Macrofoundations of Institutions challenges the binary distinction that has long constrained institutional scholarship. Transcending the limitations of Coleman’s “bathtub” metaphor, this volume advances a multilevel theory of institutions as dynamic, recursive systems. Rather than privileging micro-action or macro-structure, the contributors view institutions as a continuum where influence flows continuously across levels—from individual cognition to societal logics.Building on previous Research in the Sociology of Organizations volumes, this collection shifts the analytical focus from static "boxes" to the "arrows" that connect them. A central theme is that communication and language serve as the critical bridge traversing these levels, enabling meanings to aggregate and disseminate. By integrating these perspectives, this volume offers a framework where constraint and agency coevolve, encouraging scholars to "lean into" the complexity of cross-level interactions.