As the rhetorical term "ethos" becomes more broadly defined, it becomes necessary to define sub-categories within the term to prevent it from becoming useless. One such proposed category is "institutional ethos," which describes the symbiotic relationship between the ethos of an organization and the ethe of its members, as well as the reverse. This concept is defined through theoretical grounding and examination of relevant contemporary scholarship, and demonstrated in multiple instances of "real-world" analysis. Finally, the case of cyclist Lance Armstrong's drug use scandal is studied in detail to demonstrate the application of institutional ethos as an analytical device
