Institutional Change

The institutional level is a focus of the Center’s inquiry (as compared to the more conventional emphasis on individuals, groups, or policy). Interventions aimed at institutional practice have traction to improve the conditions shaping individuals' experiences and to connect local experimentation to national networks. Institutions, such as universities, workplaces, and police departments, organize individuals' decision making and activities. They shape how individuals participate in their workplace, and they manage the relationship of individuals to the broader profession and society. They often operate within a network of similar institutions, such as other universities, disciplines, and professional associations. Institutions are both lasting and permeable. They mediate how norms and policies are translated into practice. They are an important location for cultural meaning-making and for producing sustainable change.