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Call for Papers
Conference Tracks Conference Programme Paper Submission Awards and Publication Doctoral Colloquium WAIB Speed Mentoring Professional and Methods Workshops PDWs and Career Development Registration and Fees Venue and Location Accommodation Contact Us IMPORTANT DATES:Main conference Paper Submission Deadline: 2 February 2025
Doctoral Colloquium Paper Submission Deadline: 17 February 2025 Pavlos Dimitratos Best Dissertation Award Deadline: 27 February 2025 Early Bird Registration Deadline (for Presenting and Non-Presenting Authors): 12 March 2025 Final Conference Registration Deadline: 04 April 2025 (no dinner guaranteed after 13 March) Doctoral Colloquium, Welcome Reception, Paper Development Workshops, and Research Method Workshops: 24 April 2025 Main Conference: 24-26 April 2025 VENUE:Surrey Business School, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
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MAIN CONFERENCE TRACKS TRACK 1: GENERAL TRACK Track Chairs: Elisabeth Rose (Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, India) and Selim Cakir (University of Birmingham, UK) The AIB-UKI conference builds on a tradition of inclusiveness and thematic comprehensiveness. The ‘general’ track welcomes all IB papers, particularly ones that are beyond the scope of the specific conference tracks. Theoretical and conceptual papers, as well empirical research methodologies, may fall into this track. TRACK 2: GLOBALISATION, INNOVATION & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Track Chairs: Abderaouf Bouguerra (University of Surrey, UK) and Jill Juergensen (University of Surrey, UK) The integration of innovative technology and digital transformation becomes an increasingly important aspect of international business. Digital transformation has shifted from being a technological opportunity to an absolute necessity for corporate performance and economic growth. In light of these developments, corporations are in a pursuit of developing new products /services and processes to strive and compete in global markets. This track invites submissions which delve into how the adoption of emerging and innovative technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and the Metaverse, impact and define global business practices. The track welcomes empirical as well as conceptual papers and submissions on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: the impact of AI on international business strategies, the role of Blockchain technology in global supply chains and financial systems, the opportunities and challenges of the metaverse in international business contexts; digital transformation and its implications for cross-border trade and investment; the ethical considerations of technology adoption in international business practices; the role of technology in enhancing corporate social responsibility and sustainability efforts; digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the international business landscape. Overall, this track aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between IB, technology, and digital transformation and their implications for addressing or exacerbating grand societal challenges. TRACK 3: INSTITUTIONS, TRADE AND FDI Track Chairs: Ari Van Assche (HEC Montreal, Canada) and Sorin Krammer (University of Surrey, UK) This track seeks papers that explore the intersection of institutions, trade, and FDI, particularly focusing on institutional heterogeneity and its complex role in shaping trade and FDI flows in an era of wavering globalization. A main reason for firms, both large and small, to engage in global trade and foreign investment is to enhance their productivity and expand their consumer base. However, these benefits related to international business have been challenged by recent shocks including supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising techno-nationalism and related industrial policies, and growing populism. In this context, changing institutions – both formal and informal – have posed obstacles for firms in cross-border investments, hindering the flow of goods, capital, services, and information. This track aims to highlight these issues, emphasizing how institutions influence firm strategies to promote trade and investment, and how firms navigate institutional complexities and barriers to achieve global reach. Join us for an intellectually stimulating event that fosters meaningful discussions, shares groundbreaking research, and addresses critical issues in today’s business landscape. Areas of interest for paper submissions include institutions (e.g., identifying mechanisms and policies that help or hinder firm competitiveness, trade, and investment), regional integration (e.g. exploring the extent of economic and political integration that facilitates global trade and investment), geopolitics (understanding the impact of current political, economic, and cultural dynamics on trade and FDI flows, and unveiling new firm strategies to overcome institutional voids and barriers), and adaptation and resilience (e.g. analysing how firms adapt and adjust their resources and processes to maintain productivity and trade in different institutional environments and in response to major shocks- financial crises and COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the global economy). TRACK 4: SUSTAINABILITY AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES Track Chairs: Shasha Zhao (University of Surrey, UK) and Sun Hye Lee (University of Surrey, UK) Sustainability is crucial for global economic growth and essential for companies engaged in international business (including operations, behaviors, and stakeholder interactions). International corporations play a significant role in society and are encouraged by policy makers to address and contribute to sustainability challenges through their decision-making and actions. Although multinational corporations are actively addressing these challenges, progress has been incremental. This slow progress is often attributed to the complexities managers face in balancing the demands of shareholders with the increasingly stringent and diverse sustainability policies imposed by national governments and international organisations. This evolving policy landscape creates both opportunities and challenges for corporations in achieving sustainability. We invite submissions that examine corporate sustainability efforts such as: reducing carbon footprints, enhancing resource efficiency across value chains, adopting circular economy practices, leveraging advanced digital technologies, fulfilling the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and aligning with national and international policies. This track seeks empirical, conceptual, and theoretical research that enhances our understanding of how international business influences and is influenced by sustainability. We particularly value contributions that help scholars explore the sustainability landscape to provide practical insights for both business leaders and policymakers. TRACK 5: NON-MARKET STRATEGIES AND GEOPOLITICS Track Chairs: Tazeeb Rajwani (University of Surrey, UK) and Kamel Mellahi (University of Surrey, UK) There is a long tradition in the IB literature of exploring the relationship between MNEs and both home and host country governments. The interaction between MNEs and governments has been extensively studied in the context of emerging market economies, where home-country government support is considered crucial. MNEs often need to deploy effective non-market strategies to navigate or overcome institutional voids in these economies. Recently, scholars have started examining how the nature of western and non-western governments (e.g., populist or anti-globalization movements), geopolitical uncertainties, and rivalries among countries and regions can influence MNE strategies. However, this area of research is still developing, and there is a need for further theoretical development and empirical research to deepen our understanding of MNE-government relations. For instance, do MNEs from developed countries interact differently with their home country governments compared to MNEs from emerging markets? This question is particularly pertinent given the institutional voids in the latter and the tightly held, multigenerational nature of large corporations in these countries. Additionally, do host country government objectives change over economic and political cycles, and how does this variability affect their interactions with MNEs and, consequently, MNE strategies? Furthermore, how do MNEs manage adverse policy actions by host-country governments? This track encourages submissions that address these questions, particularly those that contribute to a nuanced understanding of MNE-government relationships through robust theoretical frameworks. Papers adopting an interdisciplinary approach and drawing from related disciplines such as economics and political science are especially encouraged. TRACK 6: DYNAMICS OF EMERGING MARKETS Track Chairs: Roseline Wanjiru (Northumbria University, UK) and Hyeyoun Park (University of Surrey, UK) This track invites paper submissions that explore the dynamic landscape of international business in emerging markets. We seek to examine the unique opportunities, challenges, and strategies associated with conducting business in these rapidly evolving economies. We encourage submissions that delve into a wide range of topics, including but not limited to market entry strategies, cross-cultural management, institutional voids, political risk, business government relations, innovation and technology adoption, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, emerging market multinationals, global value chains, and the role of local actors. We are particularly interested in submissions that shed light on the complex interplay between local contexts and global forces and how businesses can navigate this complexity to create positive social and economic impact. Additionally, we welcome empirical, theoretical, and case-based papers that shed light on the complexities and nuances of operating in emerging markets. Please note that the topics mentioned above are provided as examples, and submissions on related themes and areas within the context of emerging markets are highly encouraged. TRACK 7: MARKETING IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT Track Chairs: Ismail Golgeci (Aarhus University, Denmark) and Mohamed Sobhy Temerak (University of Surrey, UK) Multinational enterprises (MNEs) worldwide are facing challenging circumstances as they navigate the lasting effects of various macroenvironmental changes such as wars, political polarization, climate change, pandemics, natural disasters and the general shortage in frontline/sales employees in many different parts of the world (e.g., Europe, Australia and Japan). Moreover, in the era of disruptive markets, the fourth technological revolution including technology-infused mediums (e.g., metaverse, augmented reality) and agents (e.g., virtual influencers, Internet-of-Things (IoT), service robots and ChatGPT) have revolutionised how enterprises, including small and medium-sized ones, navigate through such global challenges. These changes have significantly altered the way global enterprises promote and sell their products or services and interact with global stakeholders. Consequently, international marketers must now more than ever identify and implement an appropriate international marketing response strategy when confronted with such challenges. Furthermore, international marketers and sales managers must understand how global consumers and partners will react and respond to their proactive international branding, innovation, sustainability, and sales efforts to gain a competitive advantage. In line with the conference's overarching theme, we strongly encourage submissions of theoretical and empirical research contributions that address these inquiries. TRACK 8: INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP Track Chairs: Niina Nummela (University of Turku, Finland) and Gavin Hilson (University of Surrey, UK) The track aims to explore and discuss international entrepreneurship particularly in relation to dynamic global ecosystems. We provide an opportunity for insightful debates around across a wide range of topics within the field. Specifically, we welcome submissions addressing trends and challenges of global entrepreneurial ecosystems, ecosystem dynamics and their impact on entrepreneurial internationalisation, as well as internationalization strategies tailored for startups and SMEs. Furthermore, we are keen on receiving contributions that explore policy implications for fostering international entrepreneurship and investigate the transformative role of emerging technologies and digitalization in shaping the global entrepreneurial landscape. Join us in examining these critical areas, fostering meaningful dialogue and paving the way for innovative solutions that drive entrepreneurial success on a global scale. Both empirical and conceptual pieces of research are welcome. TRACK 9: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, DIVERSITY & GOVERNANCE Track Chairs: Cordula Barzantny (Toulouse Business School, France), Ashish Malik (Queen's University Belfast, UK), and Chengcheng Miao (University of Reading, UK) This track invites papers that address the nature and pattern of HR change, diffusion, and implementation in multinational organisations. We are also interested in research on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Governance impacting international people management especially in times of a significant crisis and how people advance in these contexts in multinational organisations. We are keen on submissions that underscore the vital importance of IHRM policies and practices in building a capacity for organisational resilience and employee well-being to deal with major disruptions such as COVID-19, thereby providing new theoretical insights into key IHRM practices in such contexts. In particular, we invite IHRM scholars to submit empirical and conceptual papers focusing on the following topics, but not limited to 1) the impact of Covid-19 or other crises on managing people in multinational enterprises, 2) resilient IHRM practices, 3) intercultural and institutional contexts of HR diffusion, 4) differentiated HR practices in headquarters and subsidiaries for effective expatriate and mobility management in times of crises, 5) IHRM in different national settings, 6) talent management in times of uncertainty, contingencies and its effect on HR diffusion and implementation in multinationals, 7) hybrid working arrangements, and 8) transferable IHRM practices for enhancing employee wellbeing. TRACK 10: TEACHING & EDUCATION IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Track Chairs: Stefan Zagelmeyer (University of Manchester, UK), Margaret Fletcher (University of Glasgow, UK), and Ann Parchment (University of Surrey, UK) The objectives of this track are to facilitate the development and sharing of best teaching practices, to provide a forum for sharing knowledge on teaching-related topics, and to promote research that showcases the impact of IB teaching. This track invites submissions of scholarly papers, experiential exercises and case studies with teaching notes, and extended abstracts that stimulate teaching innovation and promote best practices in IB teaching. We would like to encourage contributions in four areas. First, teaching practices, curriculum innovation and pedagogical tools that support the students’ learning process, including the potential implications of artificial intelligence and new digital technologies. Second, the development of faculty skills that support digital education, curriculum internationalisation, cross-cultural learning environments, and multidisciplinary approaches. Third, contributions that engage with the implications of the global disruptions and transformations for IB in teaching. And fourth, contributions that address the implications of the changing higher education environment, including the continuing internationalisation of higher education, the increasing importance of impact and engagement, and the growing importance of teaching and scholarship contracts. TRACK 11: RESEARCH METHODS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Track Chairs: Davide Castellani (University of Reading, UK) and Ursula F. Ott (Nottingham Trent University, UK) International business (IB) research is deemed to explore and explain the inherent complexity of international business activities, stemming from the magnitude of global activities and multitude of stakeholders and interactions, and dynamism of the global economic and political system. This portrays opportunities for IB research but also sparks methodological challenges. This complexity carries several opportunities for IB research as well as methodological challenges facing international business field. Building on this view, the objective of this track is to discuss contemporary methodological opportunities and challenges related to research in the international business field. This track covers a diverse range of IB methods issues, including qualitative, quantitative and mixed approaches. We invite submissions of scholarly papers and extended abstracts that stimulate research methods in IB and promote new rigorous quantitative and qualitative research methods. We welcome submissions of papers that deal with emerging and new research methods, aiming to extend the understanding of different rigorous research strategies and methodologies. We encourage submissions that strive to contribute to IB research methods by offering recommendations to help IB scholars appreciate this complexity and conduct reliable, rigorous, insightful, integrated and practically relevant research. TO SUBMIT A PAPER, CLICK HERE |