Pamela S. Tolbert|Lynne G. Zucker
Institutional Sources of Change in the Formal Structure of Organizations: The Diffusion of Civil Service Reform, 1880-1935
paper investigates diffusion institutionalization change formal organization structure using data adoption civil service reform citiesit shown civil service procedures required state diffuse rapidly directly state citywhen procedures legitimated diffuse gradually underlying sources adoption change overtimein latter case early adoption civil service cities related internal organizational requirements city characteristics predicting adoption late adoption related institutional definitions legitimate structural form city characteristics longer predict adoption decisionoverall findings provide strong support argument adoption policy program organization importantly determined extent measure institutionalizedwhether law gradual legitimation