Legitimization of unwanted, dispersed, hidden innovations

Abstract

The goal of this research was to identify which factors contribute to the legitimation of unwanted, dispersed, hidden innovations by evasive, dispersed, hidden institutional entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. Entrepreneurs that work with psychedelic substances are chosen as unit of analysis, because they work with this type of innovations. Those entrepreneurs were asked about their legitimation strategies and also outsiders of the sector were interviewed to examine how they view these legitimation strategies. After analyzing the interviews, a new theoretical model was formed explaining the pathway how entrepreneurs legitimize unwanted, dispersed, hidden innovations. This model consists of three phases which happen consequently. The first phase consists of various hidden, dispersed entrepreneurs working with psychedelic substances and they all had their own innovative activities, vision and not much communication was going on between the organizations. The second phase regards the emergence of professional organizations that connected through social media and social events to different important stakeholders, such as investors, different media outlets, scientists and thought leaders with many followers. They also linked to already existing professions, like psychologists, psychiatrists, and certified therapists to get more legitimacy from the public. All these collaborations resulted in the formation of an isomorphic field and an umbrella organization emerged with the goal to create standardized work protocols. This umbrella organization was also meant to lobby for the legitimacy of the psychedelic organizations. Nevertheless, most underground organizations remained underground, but are now more connected to the whole psychedelic community. The four main factors that contributed to the legitimation of these innovations were (1) professional organizations were able to exist through the exploitation of gaps in regulations, (2) events that led to the collaboration of different actors, (3) collaborating with already legitimate professions in order to legitimize their own profession, and (4) the formation of an umbrella organization from delegates of all professional and underground organizations to work on collective innovation and legitimation strategies.