Question

A university in your state recently added a new state-of-the-art student center on their campus. This student center has bowling alleys, fast-food restaurants, group study space, and the latest green technology. Not long after it was finished, almost every other university in your state proposed and began building a new student center, too. How can the theory of institutional isomorphism explain this phenomenon

Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

Although the question does not include options, we can say the following.

The theory of institutional isomorphism explains this phenomenon in that "Universities operate in the same environment and therefore end up looking alike."

This theory was developed by W. Powell and G.J. DiMaggio and refers to how organizations resemble other organizations' ideas that serve for progress in similar environmental conditions. That is why, not long after the new student center was finished, almost every other university in the state proposed and began building a new student center, too. These universities compete with each other and try to be ahead. So they want to have the best facilities in the region to attract more students.