Institutional isomorphism and organizational culture of a distribution company: a case study

Studies on institutional theory have gained space in the field of organizational studies for providing ways to understand the implicit patterns and diversity within organizations. For Pereira (2012), institutional theory aims to explain organizational phenomena by understanding how structures and actions become legitimate, and can explain the phenomenon of isomorphism, which is a mechanism used by organizations. In this context, understanding organizational culture is of great importance. The objective of this work is to analyze the process of formation of the organizational culture of a new distribution company from Ceara, belonging to an economic group, according to the Competing Value Model (CVM) developed by Cameron and Quinn (2011). The research used quantitative and qualitative approaches. The results indicate that the new company developed many of the practices of the original group, taking it as a model, managing the resistance encountered and improving practices and actions, suggesting the occurrence of mimetic institutional isomorphism, i.e., the tendency for organizations to adopt similar structures and act in a similar manner. The study contributed by seeking to identify and understand the influence of the main aspects that guide the process of institutionalization and formation of organizational culture, thus expanding the knowledge of the themes within the scope of organizational studies.