Recognizing, evaluating, and selecting new ideas: the problematic journey of novelty

The journey of novelty – from the moment it arises to the time it takes hold – is often a difficult one. Life outside the mainstream is harsh, and social objects (e.g. ideas, products, technologies, or organisational forms) that lie off the beaten path tend to be overlooked. In this special issue, we bring together research which deepens our understanding of how novelty and new ideas get recognised, evaluated, and selected. The different articles and essays in this special issue not only shed fresh light on the underlying mechanisms that govern how the new surfaces, takes root, and propagates but also push our scholarly thinking in new and exciting research directions.