Michael Grothe-Hammer

Michael Grothe-Hammer is a Professor in Sociology (Organization and Technology) at the Department of Sociology and Political Science (ISS) of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, a position he has held since September 2024. Previously, he served as an Associate Professor at the same institution from April 2020 to September 2024. He heads the 'Organization & Society' Research Group at NTNU and serves as Co-Editor in Chief of the Journal of Organizational Sociology.

• Professor in Sociology at NTNU (2024-present)
• Associate Professor of Sociology at NTNU (2020-2024)
• Research Associate at Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg (2015-2020)
• Doctorate in Sociology from Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg (2015-2018)

His research spans multiple dimensions of sociological theory with particular focus on organization theory, digitalization, and societal differentiation. Grothe-Hammer has developed Decisional Organization Theory as an integrated framework that articulates multiple concepts of organization theory. His work on ASMR represents a pioneering sociological examination of this emotional phenomenon, while his research on meta-organizations tackles how these entities address grand challenges through societal differentiation. His scholarship consistently applies systems theory to contemporary organizational phenomena, examining partial organization, communicative constitution of organizations, and the social construction of new emotional experiences.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward integrating social systems theory with contemporary organizational challenges. His work increasingly focuses on meta-organizations addressing grand challenges, algorithmic decision-making in organizations, and the theoretical renewal of organizational concepts through systems theory. The publications demonstrate a consistent pattern of applying Luhmannian systems theory to practical organizational phenomena while expanding the theoretical boundaries of organizational sociology.

• EGOS Best Paper Award 2016 (with Jörg Sydow, Olivier Berthod, and Ryan Hagen)
• Nominated for EGOS Best Student Paper Award 2017
• Performance bonus from Helmut Schmidt University for 'outstanding, exceptional performance' (2017 & 2018)
• Finalist at Most Inspirational Paper Awards 2024 of European Academy of Management
• Outstanding Reviewer Award in 2024 Emerald Literati Awards for Kybernetes
• Wiley Top Downloaded Article (2019-2020 period)

Grothe-Hammer has supervised numerous Master's and Bachelor's theses on diverse topics including project networks, digital collaboration, climate perceptions, sustainability policies, and various organizational phenomena. His leadership extends to multiple research projects including 'Meta-organizing grand challenges,' 'FIRE 21' (focused on fire services problem-solving), 'EUSEAS' (EU maritime sustainability), and 'CODIC' (comparative study on social inclusion). He leads the 'Organization and Society Research group' and is active in the 'Environment, Sustainability and Governance Research Group' and 'Digitalization and Social Life Research Group' at NTNU.