The Role of Deliberate Silence in Institutional Change

Jancsary, Dennis C ORCID: 0000-0002-7836-4133 (2026) The Role of Deliberate Silence in Institutional Change Academy of Management Review. ISSN 0363-7425, 1930-3807

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Abstract

In this article, I develop insights into deliberate silence as a facilitator of institutional change. I argue that deliberate silence constitutes a form of text that can influence dynamics of discourse positions and discourse content, thereby affecting relationships among relevant actors as well as institutional dynamics. This makes it a useful resource for change proponents located at the center of fields to inconspicuously shift voice towards more peripheral allies, facilitate the visibility of problematizations and novel theorizations, and mitigate the effect of defense strategies from central opponents of change. Starting from a basic discourse-based model of institutional change, I show how a systematic acknowledgement of deliberate silence facilitates a better understanding of discursive dynamics. Specifically, I synthesize four types of deliberate silence (activating, suppressing, affirming, and concealing) in institutional change processes and model a set of communication strategies based on these types of silence that support change in various ways. These ideas contribute to existing literature by suggesting novel ways of understanding how actors navigate barriers to institutional change, and how interactions between different types of actors during institutional dynamics unfold.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, 3507 Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Management Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > Faculty of Humanities & Social Sci (All T&R Staff) Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Management > Work, Organisation and Management (WOM) Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Management > School of Management (T&R Staff)
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 Jan 2026 09:55
Last Modified:	23 May 2026 10:56
DOI:	10.5465/amr.2022.0145
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3196724
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