Ben Innis

My research explores how novel, innovative, and/or disruptive ideas and practices diffuse through, are legitimated into, and affect existing systems of meaning. Drawing on practice theory and institutional theory, I study empirical phenomena such as category change, cultural entrepreneurship, and institutionalization/ deinstitutionalization. Contextually, I focus on fields of cultural production, particularly popular music. Using a combination of archival material and semi-structured interviews, I employ inductive analytical methods in conjunction with content analysis and qualitative comparative analysis to build upon and generate new theory.

Prior to his doctoral studies, Ben worked as a project manager at an electronic health record software company, guiding healthcare organizations through successful software implementations. He holds a B.A. in Music Performance and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire.