Beyond Central Actors: Rethinking the Role of Peripheral Actors in Fields Facing Decline¹

Field decline poses significant challenges for fields and associated actors, often disproportionately affecting peripheral actors. This study examines how organizations can proactively manage field rearrangement to mitigate the negative impacts of decline, particularly for vulnerable stakeholders. Through a longitudinal case study of “Mining Corp” in Ghana, we challenge the traditional focus on central actors in institutional theory. Our findings reveal that centralizing peripheral actors early and continuously is necessary, though not sufficient, to mitigate field decline or collapse. We identify four key strategies: (1) redefining relevant institutional actors, (2) identifying many possible new arrangements for the field, (3) planning early and flexibly, and (4) facilitating the transition of institutional leadership. These insights contribute to institutional theory by offering a new perspective on the role of peripheral actors in field dynamics and providing a framework for proactive management of decline. Our study demonstrates how central actors can strategically devolve power and responsibilities to local stakeholders, thereby fostering field resilience and sustainability. These findings have significant implications for both theory and practice, offering guidance to organizations facing similar challenges in managing institutional transitions and field rearrangements.