A Case Study of Institutional Disruption and Repair at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (1842-2012)
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Maintaining the Institutional Core: A Case Study of Institutional Disruption and Repair at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (1842-2012) by Alison C. Minkus A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Analysis Faculty of Business University of Alberta © Alison C. Minkus, 2015 ii ABSTRACT Drawing from an institutional work perspective, I focus on how institutions are maintained amidst disruption, by analyzing what aspects are held constant, and what aspects are allowed to change over time. I offer the institutional core as the main focus of maintenance work set alongside peripheral aspects that may be changed over time. Using a historical case study and archival analysis of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, I find a continuum of change from relative constancy to significant change in three endogenous actors, i.e., the repertoire, soloists, and conductors, respectively. Three selected cases further our understanding of the nature of maintenance, including what is held constant and what is allowed to change, as well as how key endogenous and exogenous actors employ several key repairing and recreating mechanisms during and following periods of disruption. iii PREFACE This thesis is an original work by Alison C. Minkus. The research project, of which this thesis is a part, received research ethics approval from the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board, Project Name: Maintaining the Institutional Core: A Case Study of Institutional Disruption and Repair at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (1842-2012), No. Pro00042006, September 5, 2013; renewed, August 27, 2014. iv Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed. - Irene Peter, American author - v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I extend my sincere thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Roy Suddaby, as well as committee members, Dr. Lloyd P. Steier (Chair), Dr. Wendy Reid (External), Dr. Trish Reay, and Dr. William (Bill) Foster. I also thank Dr. Richard Field, who contributed as committee member at the time of Candidacy. I also gratefully acknowledge funding received from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the University of Alberta. Finally, I also thank Dr. Guillaume Tardif, as well as my family and friends, for unwavering encouragement and support. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Theoretical Framing ...................................................................................................... 8 Foundations: The institutional work perspective ........................................................................ 8 Focus: Maintaining institutions ............................................................................................. 12 Maintenance: Most recent work ......................................................................................... 13 Disruption: An integrated approach to institutional work ..................................................... 14 Institutional disruption: Selznick’s early work .................................................................. 15 Institutional disruption: Extant literature ........................................................................... 18 Integrating institutional work: Extant literature ................................................................. 19 An integrated model of institutional work ......................................................................... 23 The nature of institutional disruption .................................................................................... 24 Individual and collective work........................................................................................... 25 The institutional core ................................................................................................................. 27 Friedland and institutional substance, or essence .................................................................. 28 Institutional substance and the institutional work perspective .......................................... 28 Institutional substance and action ...................................................................................... 30 Institutional substance and change..................................................................................... 31 Selznick and character ........................................................................................................... 33 Institutionalization and organizational character ............................................................... 37 Institutions and change ...................................................................................................... 38 Authenticity and integrity ...................................................................................................... 39 Authenticity........................................................................................................................ 40 Integrity .............................................................................................................................. 42 Integrity and change ....................................................................................................... 45 Institutions and organizational identity ................................................................................. 48 Identity: Extant literature ................................................................................................... 49 An institutional approach to organizational identity .......................................................... 53 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 56 vii Chapter 3: Research Context and Methodology ........................................................................... 58 General outline .......................................................................................................................... 59 On my role as researcher and ethical considerations ................................................................ 60 Qualitative design: Case study analysis and archival analysis .................................................. 60 The Single Case Study ........................................................................................................... 61 The single case study: Key components ............................................................................ 62 The single case study: Noted “tensions” ............................................................................ 63 Archival analysis ................................................................................................................... 65 Empirical context ...................................................................................................................... 66 The New York Philharmonic Orchestra ............................................................................ 67 Data analysis ............................................................................................................................. 70 Case study method ................................................................................................................. 70 Data analysis: A focus on structure and practice ................................................................... 71 Data validity, reliability, and generalizability ....................................................................... 71 Data sources .............................................................................................................................. 72 The New York Philharmonic archives .................................................................................. 73 Commissioned and non-commissioned biographies ............................................................. 73 New York Times reviews and other texts ............................................................................. 74 Framework: Spitzer and Zaslaw (2004) ................................................................................ 74 Taxonomy .......................................................................................................................... 74 Organology ........................................................................................................................ 75 Orchestration ...................................................................................................................... 76 Social history ..................................................................................................................... 77 Performance practice ......................................................................................................... 77 Data collection and recording ................................................................................................... 78 Consistency, change, and selected disruptions ...................................................................... 78 Chapter 4: The Symphony Orchestra ............................................................................................ 83 viii The evolution of the orchestra ................................................................................................... 83 The earliest orchestras and Baroque forms (16th and 17th centuries)....................................