Organizational identities and institutions: Dynamics of the organizational core as a question of path dependence

Organizational identity is a mechanism that mediates between external pressures and internal demands on continuity. The concept of organizational identity is considered to be central to solving the research problem addressed of combining the effects of an institutional environment with the continuity of organizational core structures. In the course of feedback processes between organizational identity and activities, a path dependent development of organizational identity can be triggered. In this situation, organizations are restrained in their ability to adapt core structures to changing environmental conditions.