This paper analyzes the institutional context of maintenance purchasing in higher
education. It aims to provide insights into the institutional complexities of smart
maintenance purchasing in higher education institutes. In a case study, six external
institutional fields and two internal institutional logics are identified. They create two
types of institutional complexities that impede innovation if not treated correctly. Three
ways are discussed to deal with those institutional complexities, 1) negotiating
institutional field boundaries, 2) creating new institutional logics and practices, and 3)
implementing institutional changes.