50^th AIB UK and Ireland Chapter Conference

Main conference, Friday 5^th – Saturday 6^th April 2024

Doctoral Colloquium, Thursday 4^th April 2024

Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham

CHAIR OF THE CONFERENCE

Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

CALL FOR PAPERS

“International Business in Evolution: Disruptions, Transformations and New Internationalisation Trends”

In recent years, the global business environment has witnessed unprecedented disruptions and challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, geopolitical tensions and expansion of the conflict zones, energy crisis and economic downturns, the surge of political populism trends, and climate change. Such international disruptions undoubtedly can alter the cross-border activities of firms, offering both internationalisation threats and opportunities. For instance, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, many firms have been challenged by disruption in their supply chain, reduction in their national and international demand or restrictions in access to financing.

Furthermore, the ever-evolving technological advancement has changed the international business game. On the one hand, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and new digital technologies such as social media, AI-driven marketing tools, and digital platforms like the metaverse have provided a wider outreach for firms to new customers in international markets. On the other hand, failure to invest in and adapt to the latest technologies, along with cybersecurity and privacy issues, can disadvantage firms in the competitive international markets, pushing them to consider the option of reducing their international activities or exiting from foreign markets.

In response to such disruptions, international firms need to make strategic transformation decisions and shift to more flexible and agile business models. It begs for the employment of innovation and new technologies to the firm’s operation, re-orchestration of their global value chains, inter-firm knowledge collaboration and R&D, and taking advantage of foreign market context advantages. However, such strategic decisions need to be well aligned with the new world order and international business policy, as well as the recent changes to economic geography, while prioritising sustainable business practices.

We invite scholars to join this debate at the 50^th AIB UK & Ireland Chapter Conference, where we further scrutinise the evolution of international business as a response to the recent disruptions. This conference theme further explores the new internationalisation trends and practices applied by small and medium (SME) internationalisers and multinational enterprises (MNEs). We also invite research on non-linear internationalisation strategy, which explores the wave of de- and re-internationalisation resulting from the disruptions and firms’ responses. However, in the tradition of previous chapter conferences, we welcome papers that explore different international business topics pertinent to the conference tracks below.

For more information, visit https://www.aib-uki.org/

CONFERENCE TRACKS

Track 1: General Track

Surender Munjal, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Yama Temouri, Khalifa University, UAE, [log in to unmask]

Track 2: Global Value Chains: Contents and Discontents

Ari Van Assche, HEC Montréal, Canada, [log in to unmask]

Jun Du, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 3: International Entrepreneurship, Export Challenges, and Intermittent Exporting

Antonella Zucchella, University of Pavia, Italy, [log in to unmask]

Razieh Sadraei, Coventry University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 4: International Business, Innovation & Geography

Marianna Marra, University of Sussex, UK, [log in to unmask]

Dalila Ribaudo, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 5: The Intersection of SDGs and the Dark & Bright Sides of International Business and Society

Chris Jones, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Elena (Liena) Kano, University of Calgary, Canada, [log in to unmask]

Track 6: The Political Economy of the MNE-Government Relationship

Sumon Bhaumik, University of Sheffield, UK, [log in to unmask]

Agelos Delis, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 7: International Business in Emerging Markets: Opportunities, Challenges, and Paths Forward

Sumit Kundu, Florida International University, USA, [log in to unmask]

Seçil Danakol, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 8: International Marketing Strategy and Consumer Behaviour in the Turbulence Era

Xinming He, Durham University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Reza Marvi, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 9: International Human Resource Management

Pawan Budhwar, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Hoa Do, University of Leicester, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 10: Grand Challenges, International Business and Policy: Towards actionable policies

Heinz Tuselmann, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Rudolf Sinkovics, University of Glasgow, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 11: International Business, Technology and Digital Transformation

Olli Kuivalainen, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland, [log in to unmask]

Antonis Ballis, Aston University, UK, [log in to unmask]

Track 12: Teaching and Education in International Business

Margaret Fletcher, University of Glasgow, UK, [log in to unmask]

Stefan Zagelmeyer, University of Manchester, UK, [log in to unmask]

DOCTORAL COLLOQUIUM

The prestigious AIB-UKI Doctoral Colloquium for PhD students will take place on Thursday 4^th April 2024, for which submissions are now invited.

The colloquium provides doctoral researchers working in the field of international business with the opportunity to present and discuss their new research ideas with a panel of distinguished scholars in a series of interactive sessions. Doctoral paper presentation sessions are held in a collaborative and friendly atmosphere, where participants have the unique opportunity to receive detailed feedback from notable scholars. Sessions are open to all conference delegates. Students receive oral and written feedback from leading experts in their field about how to theorise better, refine the data collection approach, and, ultimately, how to translate their work into full academic papers. Doctoral students at different stages of their thesis are welcome to apply for participation in the colloquium.

In order to formally recognise those PhD students with the most original ideas and unique contributions - a series of awards are also given within the Doctoral Colloquium at AIB-UKI.

Importantly, participating doctoral students will be invited to attend specialised workshops on topics such as research methods and how to publish the doctoral thesis. Senior colleagues from the AIB community will deliver these workshops.

For more information, visit https://www.aib-uki.org

Doctoral Convener: Irina Surdu, Warwick University, UK, [log in to unmask]

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

·         Main conference Paper Submission Deadline: 16 January 2024

·         Doctoral Colloquium Paper Submission Deadline: 30 January 2024

·         No Frills Registration Deadline: 29 February 2024 (please note there are limited places) 

·         Registration (presenting authors): 7 March 2024

·         Doctoral Colloquium, Welcome Reception, Paper Development Workshops, Research Method Workshops: 4 April 2024

 

The full version of the CfP can be found attached.