Strong institutional identity makes deviation from cherished practices nearly impossible.

Evidence

Highly institutionalized organizations seem particularly vulnerable to hubris. Their distinct identity and the values they embody, make institutions special in the eyes of their members and their audiences. This makes it hard to deviate from traditional and often cherished practices and paradigms. — Georg Schreyögg and Jörg Sydow, The Hidden Dynamics of Path Dependence, 255

Categorization

• APHORISMS: Reads as practical warning: the values that make an institution admired are exactly what prevent it from changing course.