Neo-institutional theory has recently advanced our understanding of the early phase of institutional change but presupposes contexts in which verbally and nonverbally expressing the intended institutional change within a group is already possible. We develop a process model that explains how change agents conceal and reveal their intentional work on institutional change over time to avoid painful sanctions and counteractions. The model describes how change agents proceed from the first moment of forming the intention to promote institutional change until change is sedimented through diffused taken-for-granted behavior. It advances the understanding of how individual and collective actors communicatively influence the macro-pathways of institutional change. The model offers new insights into the very first moments of institutional change processes, the ability to change institutions, the role of ambiguity in change processes, and how change agents slowly and fundamentally change institutions.

新制度理论最近已经使我们对制度变迁的早期阶段有了更深入的了解，但前提是语境和非言语都可以在一个群体中表达预期的制度变迁。我们开发了一个过程模型，该模型解释了变革推动者如何隐瞒和揭示他们在一段时间内对制度变革的故意工作，以避免痛苦的制裁和反作用。该模型描述了变革推动者从形成旨在促进体制变革的意图的第一刻开始，一直到通过分散的认可行为来沉积变革为止的过程。它增进了对个人和集体行为者如何在沟通上影响制度变革的宏观途径的理解。该模型为制度变革过程的最初阶段提供了新的见解，