Hello colleagues,

We are excited to announce the forthcoming 2025 BYU Winter Strategy Conference. We issue an open call for manuscripts from junior scholars, similar to prior years, as well as from more seasoned scholars doing work relevant to this year's conference theme and program tracks. This year's conference will be held at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah.

Call for Papers

26^th BYU Winter Strategy Conference

February 26-28th, 2025

Held in the mountains of Sundance, Utah near Provo

Conference Website: https://marriott.byu.edu/winterstrategyconference/

This year's conference continues our tradition of fostering rigorous academic exchange by focusing on the dynamic forces reshaping potential value creation in today's business landscape. As firms navigate an era characterized by rapid technological advancements and evolving human dynamics, this conference provides a crucial platform for examining the strategic implications of these transformative changes.

Building on the success of previous years, we continue to support the development of junior faculty by inviting them to submit papers for presentation. Each selected junior faculty scholar will receive insightful feedback from a seasoned discussant and high engagement with their work by conference participants. This year, the conference is organized into two distinct program tracks, each addressing critical opportunities and challenges being faced in strategy today. We encourage submissions from junior and more seasoned scholars that align with these tracks, which will be complemented by additional invited plenary and panel discussions that delve into the broader themes of the conference. By bringing together faculty with diverse perspectives and fostering deep engagement on these topics, we aim to advance the frontiers of strategic knowledge and practice in this rapidly changing world.

The first program track (co-chaired by Lena Lizunova, BYU and DK Kryscynski, Rutgers) is titled: Human Enterprise in the 21st Century: How Can Firms Create More Value Through People? For the last several decades strategy scholars have studied the importance of human capital for competitive advantage - i.e. the extent to which individual knowledge, skills and abilities contribute to the competitiveness of firms.  In recent years scholars have started to consider a more all-encompassing view of humans by considering the broad range of human motivations, emotions, and social connections to firms and within firms.  This broader view of humans invites us to consider new questions regarding the role of people in strategy and how individuals contribute to value creation in the firm.  We are broadly interested in scholarship that explores the human side of strategy.  Some example research topics that may fit within this track may include (but are certainly not limited to):

• How do non-monetary incentives and motives shift and change our strategy theories?
• How does a shift from "productive human capital" to "human well being" change the nature of our people-related strategy conversations?
• How does social capital contribute to the overall strategy of the firm?
• How should we think about value creation differently from value capture when humans are involved?
• How do social and cultural factors, such as inequality, discrimination and social mobility influence firm outcomes? 
• How do purpose-driven firms adapt their human capital strategies?

The second program track (co-chaired by David Bryce, BYU and Rory McDonald, Virginia) is titled: Tech-Driven Transformation: Capitalizing on Innovation, New Technologies, and Novel Business Models to Create New Value. In an era where rapid technological advancements are transforming markets, this conference track delves into how organizations manage in environments of new innovation and emerging technologies to create and sustain value. Innovations in AI and machine learning, for instance, are already reshaping the competitive landscape-providing temporary advantages to some while compelling others to adapt or risk obsolescence. To create value in these dynamic environments, firms may adopt new business models like platforms, embrace new organizational forms such as modular structures, implement new processes like crowdsourcing, or explore new approaches to competition through ecosystems. The fundamental strategic questions-where to play and how to win-become increasingly complex in this context. However, systematic research into the patterns of success and failure amid rapid change presents scholars with a unique opportunity to develop both new organizational theories and strategic insights that can guide strategy and innovation.

We invite scholarship in the areas of technology-driven transformation broadly conceived, including new research on innovation, technology strategy, business models, market-creation, and related topics. Some example topics that may fit with this track include:

·      How do emerging technologies (like AI/machine learning, or other) influence the creation and evolution of new markets, business models, and strategies?

·      Why do some firms succeed while others fail in the face of technological change?

·      What organizational structures and cultures foster agility and adaptability in technology-driven environments?

·      How do technological advancements influence competitive dynamics within established and nascent industries?

·      What new business models are enabled by technology, and what are their attributes, benefits, and downsides for strategic success?

·      How do firms develop and leverage their capabilities, resources, and processes to drive successful innovation?

·       What role do collaboration and partnerships play in fostering technological innovation across industries? 

The 2025 conference will be held at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah. This resort is located about one hour from Salt Lake City airport in scenic Sundance, Utah. It will begin on Wednesday evening February 26th and end after lunch on Friday, February 28^th. The conference will feature plenary and panel sessions, as well as presentations from scholars relating to the program areas above. Lodging is onsite within walking distance from the Redford Conference Center. The conference includes a free mountain networking activity (such as skiing/snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, Olympic Park tour and activities, etc.). In the past, some of the most impactful conversations have taken place during these winter activities.

Submissions will be accepted at the following link until October 4^th, 2024 at midnight (Mountain Daylight Time). We expect to notify all submitters regarding the conference committee's acceptances or rejections by October 18^th, 2024.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A MANUSCRIPT FOR THE 2023 CONFERENCE

Submission URL: https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bpwssMqNTTkALAO

If you have any questions, feel free to contact this year's conference Chair: Timothy Gubler (timgub@byu.edu)

Timothy Gubler

Associate Professor of Strategy

Brigham Young University

timgub@gmail.com

2025 Program Chairs

Lena Lizunova, BYU

DK Kryscynski, Rutgers

David Bryce, BYU

Rory McDonald, Virginia

Advisory Board Members

Jeff Dyer, BYU

Rajshree Agarwal, Maryland

Violina Rindova, UC-Irvine

Todd Zenger, Utah

Chris Bingham, North Carolina

Zeke Hernandez, Wharton

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Timothy Gubler
Associate Professor
BYU
Provo UT
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