Alberta School of Business, Canada

Unraveling Institutional Myths: Entrepreneuring Towards Degrowth

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ABSTRACT

Institutional myths are taken-for-granted ideals that are widely held and collectively rationalized. In this paper we explore how entrepreneurs challenge one of the most predominate and prevalent institutional myths of our time – growth. To do so we conducted a qualitative study of entrepreneurs seeking to implement and design degrowth into their ventures. Drawing on social-symbolic work, institutional work and the effectuation literature, we theorize the multi-level forms of work required to challenge growth as an institutional myth. Our findings reveal that entrepreneurs generated cognitive and embodied reflexivity through awareness work, and then engaged in disruptive self-work to disentangle growth from their sense of self. We also discovered the importance of effectuating work, which we define as the design of opportunities to disengage from an institutional myth and create an alternative imaginary. We unpack these findings and contribute to the literature on institutional work, entrepreneurship, and degrowth.

BIOGRAPHY

Niki Khorasani is a post-doctoral fellow at the Alberta School of Business, where her research focuses on the drivers of social change and the micro-processes that enable the collective shaping of sustainable organizations. Her dissertation work at the University of Ottawa examined how entrepreneurs challenge the institutional myth of growth and explore alternative economic models aligned with degrowth. Currently, she is studying how individuals and organizations co-create new imaginaries and desirable futures, particularly focusing on the transition to more sustainable practices. Passionate about sustainability, Niki's work bridges institutional theory, entrepreneurship, and ecological well-being, aiming to contribute to innovative organizing practices that address today’s pressing environmental and social challenges. Her research spans multiple in-depth qualitative studies, requiring significant fieldwork and sustained collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. Niki is committed to producing high-impact scholarship that drives theoretical innovation and practical solutions for a sustainable future.