FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS
2012 Offshoring Research Network International Conference:
The Global Sourcing of Innovation
Milan, May 29-31, 2012
Organized by
Politecnico di Milano School of Management
The global sourcing of knowledge creation and innovation (e.g.
advanced knowledge and analytical services, R&D support functions,
product design and development and R&D) has been growing
exponentially across almost every industry. This phenomenon has emerged
as a strategic driver for companies and increasingly is attracting
academic research by management, and international business
scholars. An array of different motives, including perceived cost
advantages, growing shortage of science and engineering talent in most
developed economies, recognition emerging economies will account for
future top line growth, have all contributed to the unprecedented surge
in global sourcing of knowledge intensive activities such as research and
development across all industries and technologies.
Particularly, this conference intends to be an opportunity for executives
and academics to engage and explore managerial and organizational
challenges as well as theoretical and empirical contributions related to
global sourcing of advanced knowledge and analytical services, product
development and design, R&D support functions, and traditional
research and development activities.
A unique feature of the conference is the integration of a managerial
oriented day (29th May 2012) focusing on emerging issues such
as latest TPI assessment of outsourcing business services and
implications, developments across the EU, private clouds, cyber security,
country and concentration risk, of concern to sourcing executives and
providers, followed by two days (30th-31st May
2012) of academic research.
We welcome theoretical, empirical and qualitative contributions related
to the following themes of the conference.
THEME A. Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of Global Sourcing
of R&D Activities/Advanced Services
- Application of multiple levels of analysis (e.g. countries,
industries, firms, processes etc.). Integration of multiple theoretical
lenses and explanatory mechanisms that can provide fresh insights on the
organization of global sourcing of R&D.
- Supply drives demand. The emergence of the global service provider
industry and national aspirations for attracting the outsourcing industry
as another lever of economic development impact on the dynamics of global
sourcing in general and on global sourcing of high value services
specifically. Structural characteristics that shape the way firms
organize for global sourcing of R&D.
THEME B. The Realignment of Firm Global Organization Foot Print
for Global Sourcing of innovation
- Design of ambidextrous organizations for managing boundary spanning
innovation relationships and the role of host countries. For
example:
· Managerial practices that affect effectiveness of internal organisation
capabilities for acquiring, and assimilating knowledge generated by
external sources.
· Organization of multinational enterprises internal networks for
successful exchanges with their external networks.
· Specific organizational challenges involved in the interaction of
cross-border intra- and inter-firm networks.
THEME C. Global Sourcing of Innovation and Firm
Performance
- Moderating and mediating managerial practices and cross cultural
communication factors that impact global sourcing of firms’ economic and
innovation performances. Role of country institutional configuration
(e.g. IP regime at host country) that shapes the way firms and industries
benefit from global sourcing.
THEME D. Small Firms and Global
Sourcing of Innovation
- The dynamics and strategic drivers of small firms, in traditional
and high tech sectors, engaged in global sourcing of innovation. Unique
challenges faced by small companies in organizing for global
sourcing.
- Role of venture capitalist in the innovation out sourcing decision of
start up entrepreneurial technology companies.
- Strategies and processes of small technological firms in accessing
international knowledge and innovation networks.
THEME E. Global Service Providers
- The competitive dynamics of the rapidly emerging global service
provider industry.
- The challenges faced by emerging economies in positioning their
countries as attractive destinations for global sourcing of business
services and especially of high value added knowledge creating
activities.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
· Debora Card,
Partner and V.P. of Research, Information Services Group (ISG)
· Martin Kenney,
Professor of Human and Community Development, UC Davis; Senior Project
Director, Berkeley Roundtable on the
International Economy, University of California, Berkeley.
· Arie Y. Lewin,
Professor of Strategy and International Business, Fuqua School of
Business, Duke University. Director of the Center for International
Business Education and Research (CIBER).
· Vivek Wadhwa, Vice
President of Academics and Innovation, Singularity University; Fellow,
Arthur & Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance, Stanford
University; Director of Research, Center for Entrepreneurship and
Research Commercialization and Exec in Residence, Pratt School of
Engineering, Duke University; Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Halle
Institute of Global Learning, Emory University
PAPER AND PANEL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Participants who wish to present their research at the conference are
invited to submit an extended abstract not exceeding 1.000 words through
the conference website
(
www.ornconference2012.org) no later than March 19th
2012.
In addition to individual paper submissions, panel proposals informing
one of the five key themes may be submitted. Panels are complete sessions
organized as a single submission by the panel chair.
All submissions will be peer reviewed and the conference organizing
committee will select the papers/panels considering their novelty,
academic quality and relation to the theme of the conference. The
decision of paper acceptance will be communicated by April
16th 2012.
CONFERENCE VENUE
DIG - Politecnico di Milano,
http://www.dig.polimi.it/
Conference fees
Early registration (before April 30th):
200 euro
Registration (after April
30th
): 300 euro
Important dates
Extended abstract submission: March 19th 2012
Notice for acceptance: April 16th 2012
Conference registration: April 30th 2012
Further information at
www.ornconference2012.org
The scientific committee
Arie Y. Lewin, The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University,
USA; Stephen Manning, University of Massachusetts, Boston,
USA; Silvia Massini, Manchester Business School, Manchester,
UK; Carine Peeters, Solvay Brussels School of Economics and
Management, Belgium; Lucia Piscitello, DIG-Politecnico di Milano,
Milan, Italy.
The local organizing committee
Federico Caniato, Stefano Elia, Davide Luzzini, Lucia Piscitello,
Stefano Ronchi - Politecnico di Milano
Sponsoring Organizations:
The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals IAOP, The
International Association for Contract and Commercial Management IACCM,
The European Outsourcing Association, Information Services Group
ISG.