2013 Practice Theme Committee (PtC) Call for STRATEGIC Proposals

PDW Co-Chair - Kathryn Goldman Schuyler, Alliant International University, kathryn@coherentchange.com

PDW Co-Chair - Kuo Frank Yu, City University of Hong Kong, frankyu@cityu.edu.hk

Annual Meetings Academy of Management, August 9-13, 2013, Orlando, Florida:
"Capitalism in Question"

The Practice Theme Committee was created as an All-Academy Committee to:

·         Develop greater awareness of what practice means and how it can usefully inform our scholarship in terms of both research and teaching.

·         Identify and profile exemplar initiatives that bridge the gap between theory and practice and engage practitioners and academics in the co-creation of knowledge.

·         Create a platform for ongoing engagement with practitioners so that the knowledge we discover is relevant and has impact.

We call for exciting, innovative, and interdisciplinary PDWs involving both researchers and practitioners.  This year's conference theme, "Capitalism in Question" addresses the Academy's vision "to inspire and enable a better world through our scholarship and teaching about management and organizations."  The theme asks: "What kind of economic system would build a better world? Would it be a capitalist one? If so, what kind of capitalism? If not, what are the alternatives?" Theme-related PDWS might explore how basic, taken-for-granted features of capitalism impact the practice of management and management consulting.  How do alternatives to capitalist practices emerge? How does market competition narrow or broaden the ways that managers and consultants see their roles and options, including the micro-levels of thought and feeling within individuals, management processes within organizations, and collaboration and competition within and between work units and firms?  Such PDWS might even address how market capitalism has shaped and influenced practices in business schools.

In addition to theme-related PDWs, the PTC sponsors practice-related PDWs which address the rhetoric and reality between the academy and communities of practice (such as managers, consultants, employers, employees etc.).   That is, how do we as scholars have impact beyond our own community?  We are particularly interested in workshops that show how we are making an impact in the world.

As PTC is a strategic committee and not a division nor an interest group, we are allocated limited PDW hours, yet we receive proportionately more submissions than many divisions and interest groups. We are unlikely to have sufficient hours to accept as many submissions as we might wish to, so urge you to think carefully whether your PDW is appropriate to PTC.  PTC co-sponsors PDWs with divisions and interest groups; if your paper relates only in part to the PTC mission, you may be better advised to submit to the appropriate content division, such as Entrepreneurship, HR, etc.  We invite you to discuss your PDW ideas with us during November or December.

Please use the AOM guidelines for submitting a PDW proposal.

Please note that the "Rule of Three" applies for the 2013 PDW program. If you have any questions before submitting, please contact Kuo Frank Yu FrankYu@CityU.Edu.HK, PDW co-Chair, and Kathryn Goldman Schuyler, kathryn@coherentchange.com, PDW co-Chair.