Evolutionary dynamics of organizational legitimacy of a social enterprise in a developing economy

Abstract

Several scholars have emphasized the critical relevance of organizational legitimacy in the context of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise. However, the extant literature has given scant attention to understand the temporal and evolutionary dynamics of legitimization process in a social enterprise at different stages of its life cycle. In this article, using interpretive methods, we present our observations and conceptualization of the approaches, mechanisms, and processes adopted by the Child In Need Institute (CINI)-a 38 year old established Indian social enterprise to gain and nurture legitimacy from its stakeholders. We explain how CINI has adopted different mechanisms and legitimization processes at various stages of the life cycle. It is evident that the micro-level interactive legitimization processes adopted by different organizational actors at various points in time have led to the evolution of the mission and the strategic direction of CINI over the years.