20801: From the Margins to the Mainstream: How Contestation and Competition Shape the Evolution of Novelty

Monday, July 28, 2025

08:30 - 10:00 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hall C- C3-m15

Session Type: Symposium (panel)
Orientation: Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/5npxJA

Organizer(s)

ID

Ibrat Djabbarov

Imperial College London, United Kingdom
SF

Simone Ferriani

U. of Bologna, Italy
DF

Denise Falchetti

George Washington U., United States

Panelist(s)

SG

Stine Grodal

Northeastern U., United States
PM

Pier Vittorio Mannucci

Bocconi U., Italy
JK

Janina Klein

Vrije U. Amsterdam, School of Business and Economics, Netherlands

This panel symposium centers on the transformative journey of novelty—spanning new technologies, categories, and practices—as they traverse the challenging trajectory from the periphery to mainstream recognition. Novel ideas, especially in their infancy, often struggle with a lack of legitimacy and occupy peripheral, low-status positions within their fields (Navis & Glynn, 2011; Aldrich & Fiol, 1994). Understanding the mechanisms through which these innovations emerge and gradually evolve into mainstream phenomena remains a compelling question in organizational studies. This symposium aims to address a pressing and multifaceted challenge in organizational studies: understanding how novelty transitions from the periphery to mainstream acceptance. By examining the interplay of contestation, structural challenges, and competition, it provides critical insights into the mechanisms that enable or hinder innovation in established fields. The relevance of the symposium lies in its ability to bridge theoretical perspectives with practical implications, offering actionable strategies for innovators navigating resistance and leveraging disruption.