Institutional work for new modes of evaluation: Emerging culture of assessment in evaluating sustainability in architecture

Oliveira, Sonja

Abstract

This paper deals with the question of how understandings on criteria for evaluating sustainability develop in award winning architecture in 1990-2012 in the UK. Based on the concept of institutional work the paper examines the activities and actors that contribute to the negotiation and adoption of new modes of evaluating sustainability in this context. The findings show how institutional work activities change in emphasis over time from a political focus on acknowledging sustainability issues of wider societal importance to a cultural imperative of demonstrating sustainability credentials through scientifically measurable indicators. The urgency of demonstrating sustainability in fear of losing professional status in an increasingly technologically focused industry contributes to the rapid adoption of scientifically driven understandings of criteria for evaluating sustainability. The paper reflects upon the role of changes in emphasis between political, cultural and technical institutional work activities (Perkmann and Spicer 2008) in contributing to the adoption of new modes of evaluation in this context. The conclusion discusses implications for studies of institutional work as well as wider implications for the development of sustainability understandings within the domain of creative industries, and suggests directions for further scholarship on sustainability and organizations.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: European Group of Organization Studies
• Start Date: Jul 4, 2013
• End Date: Jul 7, 2013
• Publication Date: Jul 4, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: institutional work, culture of assessment, sustainability, architecture
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/929990
• Publisher URL: http://www.egosnet.org/2013_montreal/general_theme
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : 29th EGOS Colloquium Subtheme 53: Behaviour, Management and Work