Long-term longitudinal and historical developments. Tracking the change in meaning and/or labels of categories in time is an understudied phenomenon that needs further investigation (Karthikeyan, Jonsson and Wezel, 2016). Long-term quantitative or historical studies on the changes in the meanings associated with categories would be fruitful to enrich our understanding of category dynamics.
International translation processes. The study of how category change may be facilitated by labels and practices developed elsewhere, edited and translated to new national contexts has received initial recognition (Cattani and Fliescher, 2013). These processes need, however, much more elaboration, as category labels tend to travel across borders carried by ideologies (Czarniawska and Sévon, 2005).
Recombination and category change. Categories do not exist in a vacuum but are embedded in relationships of mutuality and competition. Processes of recombination may damage firms but may also lead to the extension of a category's meaning through sustained experimentation (Phillips, 2013; Negro et al., 2011). The study of how the sustained recombination of existing categories may lead to the change in the category schema and even to the development of novel categories remains understudied.
The symbolic and the material in categorization. While the main attention of category scholars has been on labels and symbols, studies are starting to point to the importance of physical exemplars in sustaining recategorization processes (Jones et al. 2012; Delmestri and Greenwood, 2016). Further work on the role of visuals and material objects in categorization would allow for more generalizability of the theory.
Category struggles, emotions, and morality. While social movements engage in re-categorization efforts when attempting to change meaning and practices associated with social categories, these efforts can be thwarted by defensive reactions of incumbent elites, activating emotional reactions and denial (Delmestri and Goodrick, 2016). Such categorization processes have also been understood as moral struggles. Studying the sequences of moves and countermoves of these kinds of struggles, and their outcomes, constitutes an important ground for advancing category studies.
More specifically, we welcome papers that give answers to the following questions:
How does the embeddedness of social and market categories within broader society promote or hinder category change?
How do new categories emerge and become legitimately established?
How does category change unfold? What organizational challenges are linked to category change?
How does category change affect the diversity of organizations in fields?
What is the role of emotions, their arousal or denial in effecting category change?
How are categories affected by technological and social challenges?
How do social movement engage in category work which changes the status or meaning of categories?
How does work aimed at elevating the status of a category differ from the work aimed at de-stigmatizing a category?
What are the dynamics of categorization and counter-categorization?
How do category dynamics improve our understanding of markets beyond economics?
While the above list of topics and questions describes areas that could benefit from additional research, our list is not exhaustive. We seek articles that push our understanding of categories and category dynamics more broadly. The aim of this SI is to create a platform to cross-fertilize the various research camps that are involved in the study of categories with a particular focus on category dynamics. We welcome contributions from multiple theoretical perspectives, whether inspired by organization theory, organizational sociology, or economics. Studies that incorporate insights from related disciplines, including sociology, business history, political science, linguistics and semiotics, psychology and philosophy, could also find a home in this special issue.
Submissions
Please submit papers through the journal's online submission system, SAGE track at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/orgstudies, create your user account (if you have not done so already), and for "Manuscript Type" please choose the corresponding Special Issue. All papers that enter the reviewing process will be double-blind reviewed following the journal's normal review process and criteria. You will be able to submit your paper for this Special Issue between the 15th and 30th of September 2017.
Administrative support and general queries
Sophia Tzagaraki, Managing Editor, Organization Studies: OSofficer@gmail.com
For further information please contact any of the Guest Editors for this Special Issue:
Giuseppe Delmestri: giuseppe.delmestri@wu.ac.at
Filippo Carlo Wezel: wezel@em-lyon.com
Elizabeth Goodrick: goodrick@fau.edu
Marvin Washington: washingt@ualberta.ca
References
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Czarniawska, B., & Sévon, G. (Eds.) (2005). Global ideas: How ideas, objects and practices travel in the global economy. Copenhagen: Liber and Copenhagen Business School.
Delacour, L., & Leca, B. (2016). The Paradox of Controversial Innovation: Insights From the Rise of Impressionism. Organization Studies, Published online before print September 26, doi: 10.1177/0170840616663237
Delmestri, G., Goodrick, E. (2016): Looking away: denial and emotions in institutional stability and change. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 48A: 235 - 273.
Delmestri G., Greenwood, R. (2016) How Cinderella became a queen: Theorizing radical status change. Administrative Science Quarterly. Epub ahead of print 1 April 2016. DOI: 10.1177/0001839216644253.
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Karthikeyan, S. Jonsson, S., & Wezel, F.C. (2016). The Travails of Identity Change: Competitor Claims and Distinctiveness of British Political Parties, 1970- 1992, Organization Science, 27: 106-122.
Jones, C., M. Maoret, F. G. Massa, & S. Svejenova (2012). Rebels with a cause: The formation, contestation and expansion of the de novo category modern architecture, 1870–1975. Organization Science, 23: 1523– 1545.
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Montauti, M., & Wezel, C.F. 2016, Charting the Territory: Recombination as a Source of Uncertainty for Potential Entrants. Organization Science, 27/4: 954-971
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