Institutions

Institutions comprise the norms, regulations and laws that establish the 'rules of the game’ – that is, that they condition and modify the behaviour of individuals and groups so that their actions become more predictable to others. They do so through both formal rules that include laws and contracts and, as well as through informal means such as social norms and conventions that evolve over time. This use of ‘institution’ is quite different to that where it is taken as synonymous with ‘organization’.

Educational
Economic
Family
Government
Health Care
Industry
Religion
Legal – laws, criminal justice, jurisprudence
Military
NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations

• International

Political
Religion
Research

Institutions are realities that can impact people and other realities.