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The Evolution and Future of Management

An International Conference Sponsored by the Journal of Management Studies and the Society for the Advancement of Management Studies

LOCATION: St. Anne's College, Oxford

DATE: 26 – 28  March 2012

In celebration of the upcoming 50^th anniversary of the Journal of Management Studies (JMS), this conference examines both the relevance of management today and its continuing evolving role in organizations and society. 

Over its first half century JMS has been a home for debate, critical commentary, and some of the most forward looking scholarship within management studies.  The journal has always been at the forefront of the historical development of management theory and management studies: from classic debates on the nature and design of business schools (Simon 1967); the study of management and managerial work from yesterday (Mintzberg 1979) and today (Tengblad 2006); and to the critical engagement with management (Grey 1999) and its effect on various aspects of business and society.

Leading and managing firms is critically different today than it was at the inception of JMS.  Managers find themselves in a world where the clear division between business and government has been disrupted and stakeholders demand accountability beyond traditional firm responsibilities (Scherer & Palazzo 2010).  With increased scrutiny and more active stakeholders in a dynamic global marketplace, it comes as no surprise that one's ability to bear managerial uncertainty is a critical component to performance (Heavey et al. 2009).  In this uncertain world whether managers take action (or not) depends upon not just upon their assessment of the external environment but each individual's regulatory focus and whether or not they see potential opportunities (McMullen et al. 2009) that they can effectively exploit (Haynie et al. 2009).  Historically, firms have developed mechanisms such as organizational control, vertical integration, and various process innovations to help them in their strategic responses (Bucheli et al. 2010) but what does the future of management require? 

For scholars it seems clear that various environmental factors have broadened the reach, scope, diffusion and transparency of both management scholarship and practice. Today the evolution of management studies finds itself at an interesting crossroad where a paradox appears to have developed.  On the one hand we can see the decline of management (Davis 2009) where control in organizations has move away from managers, where managers have become less respected, and where some question the legitimacy of managers and the power they have in society (Grey 1999).  At the same time, the spread of western management techniques and education have infused management practice to a broader range of influence, both geographically and socially.  Management practice has spread across the globe, beyond the classic corporation to the public sector and non-profits, and has even invaded our daily discourse with "management-speak." 

The research presented at this conference will draw out this paradox and other important questions that will set the foundation for the future of management studies.  Our goal is to address the future and relevance of management by examining important questions from a multitude of managerial perspectives, including organizational theory, organizational behavior, strategy, entrepreneurship, human resources, international business and more.  Possible themes and research questions might include:

·         How has management theory, as a body of knowledge, developed and how has it evolved in interaction with other cognate areas such as strategy, HRM, and organisation theory?

·         How has globalization and technology changed the practice of management? How will these two broad factors continue to affect management?

·         How does one manage in a world that is increasingly dependent on innovation, entrepreneurship, and a shrinking product and firm life-cycle?

·         What affect do dispersed global work teams have on management?

·         How has the idea of management, when seen through a discursive lens, affected areas of society beyond the confines of firms; and what has this influence led to?

·         What are the contributions and prospects of various critical and normative perspectives on management, in the light of changing practices, societal developments and current academic debates?

·         How must management training and education adapt with the evolution of management practice?

All manuscripts that center upon issues relating to the evolution and future of management and/or the relevance of management in an increasingly complex world will be considered for the conference.  The goal is to encourage creative and imaginative contributions that engage with the future of management as scholarship and practice. Papers tracks will be commissioned that explore enduring themes, how management has changed, and how it is likely to change in the future. We will invite empirical and conceptual studies that evaluate and build on extant research and seek to advance the field. We encourage participants to reflect on the theoretical frameworks for management that will dominate research in the next decade. 

We hope to solicit papers that focus directly on the theme of the future of management.  To encourage investigation of the foundations and future aspirations of management, we will run a small, focused conference.

Call for Participation

There is no conference fee and we encourage a variety of modes of participation from the presentation of academic papers to the contribution to debate through taking on the role of discussant.

In addition to leading academics in the field of management, the conference will also bring together promising new researchers, with up to ten travel and accommodation bursaries offered to doctoral students on the basis of their proposals.

Call for Papers

Both theoretical and empirical abstracts are invited and the organizers encourage contributions from different disciplinary perspectives, including sociology, psychology, political science, economics, anthropology and cultural studies, and others.

In general, the goal is to encourage creative and imaginative contributions that resonate with the future of managerial work and scholarship. We invite empirical and conceptual studies that evaluate and build on extant research, as well as contributions that seek to advance existing research. We encourage participants to reflect on the theoretical frameworks for management practice, scholarship, and education that will dominate research for the next decades. 

An abstract of up to 1,000 words should be submitted by 16.00 GMT 30^th September 2011  by email to Jo Brudenell at: j.m.brudenell@durham.ac.uk

Acceptance of abstracts will be notified by the 30^th November, 2011

Full papers to be submitted for circulation along with a short biography and photograph by 24th February 2012

Authors of papers presented at the conference will be invited to submit their papers for possible publication in the Journal of Management Studies. 

Discussants

If you wish to attend the conference as a discussant, please register your interest with Jo Brudenell: j.m.brudenell@durham.ac.uk

Conference Organizing Committee

JMS Editors Andrew Corbett, Joep Cornelissen, and Andre Spicer, along with the editorial management team of Jo Brudenell and Margaret Turner.