Scaling Social Innovations – The Role of Institutional Infrastructure in “Mission Drift” at the Field Level

Using the concept of institutional infrastructure, we explain how the social innovation of “microcredit” experienced mission drift at the field level as it was taken to scale, transforming from a subsidy-reliant, community-based, developmental model to the financially self-sustaining model of “microfinance”, dominated by for-profit banks. We show how changes to the field’s institutional infrastructure enabled this change, emphasizing the pivotal role of “practice” within the infrastructure – encompassing the practices, measures, and metrics. In doing so, we contribute to the literature on social innovation by explaining how mission drift manifests at the field, rather than the organizational, level. By displaying the importance of field-level practices, we further contribute to the growing literature on institutional infrastructures, and we contribute to the conversation of institutional “demise.” For policymakers and organizational leaders, our findings imply that they need to carefully consider the discourse and practices that they introduce to a field, recognizing the profound effect on the organizations this attracts and the ensuing interactions. Attention to the practices and metrics that are used to gauge performance and impact is crucial, as these can significantly change field-level interactions and alter the outcomes, both at the organizational and field levels.