Marjorie Lyles
Program Co-Chair
Jeffrey Reuer
Program Co-Chair
Welcome From The Program Chairs
Dear Colleagues:
The 29th Annual International Conference of the Strategic Management Society will be held in Washington, DC.
In this vibrant and historic city, scholars and practitioners from around globe will be focusing on the conference theme Strategies in an Uncertain World.
The sessions at this conference will encourage discussions about strategies for addressing uncertainty and the opportunities created by changes in the world. Global competition, new major economic powers, corruption, and increasing world conflict, among many other changes in the world, have contributed substantial new uncertainties with which firms must contend in crafting strategies as well as executing strategies. Concepts of uncertainty have long been at the heart of many of the core theories used in strategic management to understand competitive advantage as well as organizational boundaries. Increases in the levels as well as types of uncertainty potentially have important implications for the durability of firm advantages; the way firms learn and adapt; approaches for managing innovation, knowledge, and strategic decision-making; and the attractiveness of different strategies and organizational models.
As in previous conferences, plenary sessions featuring academics, business practitioners, and consultants will be devoted to these topics. In addition, conference theme track chairs and interest group track chairs will be developing exciting common ground and paper sessions as well as pre-conference activities to foster the exchange of ideas. The conference theme tracks will be Environmental Realities in an Uncertain World (chaired by Africa Ariño), External Relationships in an Uncertain World (Dovev Lavie), Internal Organization in an Uncertain World (Henk Volberda), and a general conference track (Cathy Maritan). We also want to thank the Interest Group track chairs who will assist in the development of the program: Gianmario Verona (Competitive Strategy), Mason Carpenter (Corporate Strategy and Governance), Bjoern Ambos (Global Strategy), Christoph Lechner (Strategy Process), Maurizio Zollo (Knowledge and Innovation), Véronique Ambrosini (Practice of Strategy), and David Deeds (Entrepreneurship and Strategy).
Besides an exciting conference, the conference promises to have an interesting social program in this capitol city. We encourage you to take part in this international conference, and we very much look forward to welcoming you to Washington, DC in October, 2009!
Marjorie Lyles Program Co-Chair
Jeffrey Reuer Program Co-Chair