• Phone: 617-353-5617
  • E-Mail:  grodal@bu.edu
  • Website: http://people.bu.edu/grodal
  • Office: 657
    • Office Hours: By Appointment
  • Address: Boston University School of Management
    595 Commonwealth Avenue
    Boston, MA 02215

Profile Summary

Stine Grodal's main stream of research examines institutional change. In particular she investigates the emergence of new organizational fields and organizations’ responses to changes in their institutional environment by asking how institutional logics, symbols and localized meaning structures facilitate and constrain change processes. Dr. Grodal is interested in the use of labels, and the role labels play as carries of meaning and agents of change. She investigates how labels assume multiple meanings across institutional contexts, and how organizations use labels in order to redefine boundaries and meaning structure, attract resources, and improve their competitive advantage. Most of her research has focused on tobacco, nanotechnology and the legal service sector.

  • Education Open or Close

    Ph D, Stanford University, Management Science and Engineering, 2007.

    MA, University of Copenhagen, Psychology, 2001.

    BA, University of Copenhagen, Psychology, 1998.

  • Current CoursesOpen or Close

    SMG SI422 E1 Strategy and Policy

    SMG SI422 F1 Strategy and Policy

  • PublicationsOpen or Close

    Journal Articles:

      Stine, G., Granqvist, N., Woolley, J., Grodal, S., (Accepted). Hedging Your Bets: Explaining Executives’ Market Labeling Strategies in Nanotechnology. Organization Science,

    Book Chapters:

      Grodal, S., (Accepted). New Organizational Forms. : The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management, Editors: David Teece and Mie Augie.


    Working Papers:

      Grodal, S., Hsu, G., Category taken-for-grantedness as a strategic opportunity: The case of light cigarettes, 1964-1993. : American Sociological Review.


      Grodal, S., Nelson, A., Siino, R., Coordinating Work through Helping Behavior.

      Grodal, S., Granqvist, N., Emotions during the Institutional Life Cycle.

      Grodal, S., Nelson, A., Siino, R., Help-seeking and Help-giving as a Routinize practice. : Academy of Management Journal.


      Grodal, S., How Boundary Labeling Shapes Field Emergence: Creating Social and Symbolic Boundaries in Nanotechnology. : Administrative Science Quarterly.


      Grodal, S., Means Shifting: Creating Institutional Complexity during the Emergence of the Nanotechnology Field.

  • Research PresentationsOpen or Close

    Invited Lectures:

      Grodal, S., (Presenter & Author), How Boundary Labeling Shapes Field Emergence: Inclusion and Exclusion in Nanotechnology, Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business. (September 17, 2012).

      Suarez, F., (Presenter and Author), Grodal, S., (Author Only), Gotsopoulos, A., (Author Only), Perfect Timing?: Dominant Category and the Window of Opportunity for Entry into Emerging Markets, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy. (March 15, 2012).

      Suarez, F., (Presenter and Author), Grodal, S., (Author Only), Gotsopoulos, A., (Author Only), Categorical Dynamics and Technological Evolution in Early Industries, IE Business School, Madrid, Spain. (March 13, 2012).

      Suarez, F., (Presenter and Author), Grodal, S., (Author Only), Gotsopoulos, A., (Author Only), Perfect Timing?: Dominant Category and the Window of Opportunity for Entry into Emerging Markets, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. (March 13, 2012).

      Grodal, S., (Presenter and Author), Institutions, Networks, Knowledge: An Asilomar Conference in Honor of Woody Powell, The Road Taken: Multivocality, Transposition, and Hybridity, Scancor, Asilomar, CA. (June 12, 2012).

      Suarez, F., (Presenter and Author), Grodal, S., (Author Only), Gotsopoulos, A., (Author Only), Seminar Series, Strategy Department, Perfect Timing?: Dominant Category and the Window of Opportunity for Entry into Emerging Markets, Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal. (December 7, 2012).

    Accepted Lectures:

      Grodal, S., (Presenter and Author), Granqvist, N., (Presenter and Author), Great Expectations: Discourse, Hype, and Emotion during Field Emergence, EGOS, Helsinki, Finland. (June 20, 2012).

      Grodal, S., (Presenter and Author), Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Creating Institutional Complexity during the Emergence of the Nanotechnology Field, Academy of Management, Boston, MA. (August 8, 2012).

  • General ServiceOpen or Close

    Service to the School:

      Local, Boston University, Other Role, President Brown's Committee on Educational Technology and Learning Innovation. (April 2, 2013 - April 2, 2013).
      Was asked to participate in a roundtable providing information to President Brown's Committee on Educational Technology and Learning Innovation.