The Impact of Frame Ambiguity on Field-Level Change

Abstract

While prior work suggests that ambiguous frames may be helpful in promoting institutional change, we still know little about their impact on field-level change. Drawing on contemporary accounts of organizational fields as structured around issues, we investigate the rise of responsible investment in South Africa, examining how proponents’ use of frame ambiguity drew in a broader range of field actors but ultimately stalled the institutionalization of new meanings and practices in the investment field. Our study suggests that to promote change, proponents should seek a balance between enough ambiguity to invite participation, and enough specification to regulate the understanding of the problem, promote the experimentation of new practices, and clarify the impetus for action. We also contribute to the conceptualization of field settlement by distinguishing among rhetorical, incremental, and disruptive field settlements, highlighting that field settlements are not always indicators of further substantive change processes in a field.