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CFP: AIB special theme conference, June 10-11, Ningbo, China

  • 1.  CFP: AIB special theme conference, June 10-11, Ningbo, China

    Posted 03-30-2023 09:54
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    Academy of International Business Special Theme Conference

    CALL FOR PAPERS

    Sustainable Development and International Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Post COVID-19 Era

    Co-Hosts

    Nottingham University Business School China, University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC)

    School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST)

    School of Management, University of San Francisco (USF)

    Date: June 10-11, China Time (UTC + 8)

      Location: University of Nottingham Ningbo China

    199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

    The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the entire business world and driven out many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, in the hospitality and service industries. The situation has been exacerbated by the resurgent protectionism/populism, the tendency of deglobalization, and the potential decoupling between the world's two largest economies. Nevertheless, some SMEs have weathered the disruptions effectively and shown strong competitiveness even in the global arena, in particular, those labelled as hidden champions or niche leaders.

    What are the challenges as well as opportunities for SMEs in the post COVID-19 era? What could many SMEs learn from the hidden champions or niche leaders and develop sustainable business and international competitiveness in the coming years? Specifically, how would SMEs rejuvenate their businesses and ventures internationally? What would be their viable internationalization processes? How would they handle legitimization complexity influenced by their home and host country institutional environments? What about national security concerns faced by certain high-tech specialists?

    We stress that the research issues as mentioned above are becoming even more important in today's volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) global environment. In this special theme conference, we encourage scholars in international business and other related areas such as international economics to share/disseminate their innovative research on the evolving global environments SMEs are facing and their sustainable development and international competitiveness in the future.

    This AIB special theme conference is organized through the cooperation among AIB Asia Pacific Chapter, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, East China University of Science and Technology, and the University of San Francisco. It follows the pattern of the annual international business conference which East China University of Science and Technology, and the University of San Francisco have been co-organizing since 2016. The conference is fully supported by AIB global leadership and the AIB Asia Pacific Chapter Executive Board. Among others, the following AIB fellows have confirmed their attendance and will give keynote speeches or deliver plenary panels during the conference.

    JT Li, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (in-person)

    Jane Lu, City University of Hong Kong (in-person)

    Jeremy Clegg, University of Leeds (virtually)

    Gary Knight, Willamette University (virtually)

    Nicole Coviello, Wilfried Laurier University (virtually)

    The conference is dedicated to providing a platform for participants to communicate with one another on important international business issues, particularly those focusing on sustainable development and international competitiveness of SMEs in the post COVID-19 era. Some important research issues include:

    -          What drives international venturing of different types of SMEs? Are there some conspicuous differences between emerging and developed economy SMEs?

    -          Are there differential/unique foreign market entries and internationalization processes for SMEs in the post-COVID 19 era, especially in the contexts of Asian countries?

    -          How do hidden champions operate in the global arena? Are they less vulnerable than other SMEs in the face of global value chain reconfiguration?

    -          What international strategies do hidden champions pursue, and how do they pursue them, in the face of global institutional changes?

    -          What is the impact of China's Road and Belt Initiative on international venturing of SMEs, especially in relation to sustainable development?

    -          Would SMEs become more innovative in the process of internationalization based on learning and international alliances/networking?

    -          How do digital technologies affect the sustainable development and international venturing of SMEs?

    -          How do formal and informal institutions in home and host countries affect the legitimacy of SMEs? Are certain high-tech SMEs, for example, ill perceived and poorly treated in some host countries due to national security concerns?

    -          How do deglobalization and/or decoupling shape innovation, strategy, global talent flow, global value chain and sustainable development? What are the implications for SMEs based in the Asia Pacific region?

    Abstracts & Panel Proposals 

    This conference includes both English and Chinese sessions. We invite participants to submit full papers or extended abstracts or panel proposals related to the conference theme. For extended abstract submissions, you will need to provide an extended summary (English or Chinese) addressing the following, among others:

    ²  Research Purpose

    ²  Research Design/Research Methods

    ²  Research Findings

    ²  Contributions and Limitations

    ²  Practical Implications

    Panel proposals must be submitted by the panel chair. All panel proposals must include:

    ² A Title Page that includes the panel name, the session format (e.g., regular panel, debate, roundtable discussion) and the panel participants.

    ² The name, affiliation, email address, and role of each participant in the panel (chair, other panelists). All panelists listed in the submission must appear and present at the conference. Each panel must designate a chair.

    ² An overview of the main issue(s) addressed or arguments to be made by the panel.

    ² Copies of emails from each participant stating they agree to participate in the panel if the proposal is accepted.



    ------------------------------
    Liang Wang
    Professor
    University of San Francisco
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------

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