Making International Business Scholarship Matter

In a world marked by competing pressures for deglobalization and greater efficiency, rapid technological advancements in AI and digital platforms, major geopolitical shifts and conflicts, climate change, large-scale human migration, demographic changes, and concerns about rising inequality, doing international business is more challenging than ever. In this context, it is essential that international business scholarship not only advances academic knowledge but also addresses the key challenges faced by practitioners, policymakers, and society at large. This dual focus helps us better understand these challenges and their impact on international business, as well as the consequences of international business activities on these critical issues.

The AIB 2025 Annual Meeting invites submissions that emphasize the real-world implications of international business scholarship. We seek papers that explore the effects of these global challenges on international business (IB) and offer insights with significant impact on practice, policy, or society. We expect the research questions to be problem-driven and grounded in the concerns of various stakeholders in multinational enterprises and society, ensuring that the outcomes of rigorous IB scholarship contribute to theories of practice that are beneficial to real-world decision-makers and the public at large.

The twelve tracks to which authors should submit their papers and panels are listed at the end of this call. While these tracks do not change from year to year (although we have added a new track this year on “Global value chains, networks, and operations”), we encourage authors to submit their highest impact work to the track of their choice. In the program, we will showcase the most impactful papers nominated by the chairs of each track.

We welcome submissions of original research papers that offer practical insights, empirical evidence, and innovative perspectives on making IB scholarship matter. Contributions from diverse disciplines such as economics, sociology, psychology, finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship and related fields are encouraged.

Impactful scholarship is possible across all areas of interest and tracks. To start you off on creating scholarship with impact, here are some ideas, by no means exhaustive or exclusive, to get your creativity flowing:

1. Strategy and Innovation in the new IB environment: IB scholarship can offer critical insights to help managers navigate the evolving international business landscape. How can IB research inform strategic decision-making to enhance global competitiveness and drive innovation under the new complexities of the global environment? For instance, papers could explore the practical applications of research findings in areas such as market entry, global supply chains, global networks and alliances, M&As, and innovation in a world of increasing nationalism.
2. MNE Organization and Management Practices: Macro trends are reshaping the organization and legitimacy of multinational enterprises (MNEs). IB scholarship can elucidate evolving organizational forms, such as digital platforms in international business. Research could examine the shifting influence of cultural and institutional factors, or changing leadership and team dynamics in multicultural settings, as a result of rising populism.
3. Policy Relevance and Firm Resilience: IB research is essential for guiding policymakers in crafting effective economic, trade, and investment policies. It can also offer strategies for firms to build resilience against policy uncertainties, economic crises, political instability, and environmental challenges. Scholars could analyze the impact of climate regulation, trade agreements, and economic policies on international business, and propose evidence-based policy and managerial insights and recommendations.
4. Societal Impact: IB scholarship can significantly contribute to broader societal goals, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). How can businesses address global challenges, promote inclusive growth, and create positive social impact? How does migration affect international business? How do businesses deal with the demographic challenges facing many countries? Scholarship that explores how businesses balance profit motives with moral and ethical considerations worldwide is much needed.
5. Technological Advancements: How can IB scholarship integrate the role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital platforms, into theory and implications for practice? How can firms leverage these technologies for better decision-making and enhanced global operations? How do geopolitical and cybersecurity concerns influence the structure and integration of worldwide operations? How can firms ensure the ethical use of technology and minimize algorithmic bias in international business decisions?
6. Creating Impactful IB Scholarship: Submissions that examine how we as scholars can develop research ideas that have high impact would be particularly meaningful for this conference. How can IB scholars collaborate with practitioners and policy-makers as research projects are developed, so that the work has real-world relevance? We also welcome papers that have an impact on foundational disciplines, as international business scholarship needs to compete and succeed in the market for academic ideas.

We welcome submissions of original research papers that offer practical insights, empirical evidence, and innovative perspectives on making IB scholarship matter. As an organization, we are committed to non-discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics. We expect all panel submissions to ensure fair gender representation and reflect our dedication to diversity and inclusion.

Please submit your papers or panel proposals, each to one of the following tracks. There is a strict “rule of three” limit on the number of papers or panels each author can submit. There will be no exceptions to this rule, so please make sure all your co-authors agree to a submission and are within the rule of three, BEFORE you submit your paper or panel. We will prioritize submissions for acceptance that demonstrate rigor, relevance, and impact.

1. Internationalization processes and international entrepreneurship

Track Co-Chairs:
Vahid J. Sadeghi, Aston Business School, UK (View Profile)
Sarika Pruthi, San Jose State University, USA (View Profile)

This track focuses on how global entrepreneurs adapt and identify business opportunities in a changing world. It covers the creation of new ventures, expanding businesses, and driving innovation across borders, with a special emphasis on digital technologies and social/economic challenges.

Keywords: International entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial internationalization; Entrepreneurial networks; Digital internationalization; International new ventures; Born-global firms; Opportunity entrepreneurship; International entrepreneurial orientation; Internationalization process; Foreign entry modes; Speed of internationalization; Immigrant and Transnational Entrepreneurs.

2. International marketing and consumer behavior

Track Co-Chairs:
Billur Akdeniz, University of New Hampshire, USA (View Profile)
Kevin Zhou, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong SAR (View Profile)

This track explores how international marketing managers and consumers respond to challenges like digitalization, technological advances, geopolitical risks, and sustainability pressures. It aims to understand how cross-national/cross-cultural similarities and differences, as well as global technological and institutional changes, affect firms and customers.

Keywords: Cross-cultural marketing; International marketing theory; Marketing communications; Pricing; Distribution channels; Standardization/Adaptation; Brand management; Country-of-origin effects; Consumer animosity; Firm nationalism; Social media/e-commerce marketing; Digital marketing; AI in marketing; Sustainable marketing; Market targeting and segmentation.

3. International finance, accounting, and corporate governance

Track Co-Chairs:
Sofia Johan, Florida Atlantic Univeristy, USA (View Profile)
Albert Tsang, Southern University of Science and Technology, China (View Profile)

This track emphasizes investment choices, financial reporting, and risk management in multinational firms. It covers governance approaches, legal and financial institutions, ESG practices, and the influence of international investors on firm strategies.

Keywords: International finance; Transfer pricing; Corporate governance; Accounting standards; Non-financial reporting; Valuation; Capital structure; Financial risk management; Exchange rate exposure; Institutional investors; State ownership; Venture Capital; Private Equity; Shareholder activism; Stakeholder activism; Sustainable finance; Climate risk; Digitization and Fintech.

4. Global strategy and organization

Track Co-Chairs:
Pankaj Kumar, Virginia Tech, USA (View Profile)
Jane Lu, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR (View Profile)

This track examines the strategies and organizational responses of multinational enterprises (MNEs) to global challenges and competitive threats. It covers international strategies in a changing world, HQ-subsidiary relationships, mergers and acquisitions, foreign exit and divestment strategies, platform strategies, global organization, and the creation and transfer of knowledge across borders within the MNE and its subsidiaries.

Keywords: Global strategy; Growth strategies; Competitive strategy; Mergers and acquisitions; Foreign exit and divestment; Joint ventures; Location strategy; MNE organization; Knowledge creation and transfer; Organizational learning.

5. Global value chains, networks and operations

Track Co-Chairs:
Anna Lamin, Northeastern University, USA (View Profile)
Pengfei Li, University of Calgary, Canada (View Profile)

This track focuses on managing global value chains and operations. It covers supply chains, managing global operations and logistics, reshoring and backshoring strategies, relocation (of production, marketing, HQ or innovation centers), global networks and alliances, managing R&D clusters, and global crowdsourcing.

Keywords: Global open innovation; Location decisions; Supply chains; Global logistics; Global value chains; Offshoring, reshoring and friendshoring; Outsourcing; Connectivity; Cross-border R&D and technology management; Intellectual property protection; Alliances; Networks.

6. International HRM, global leadership, and cross-cultural management

Track Co-Chairs:
Benjamin Bader, Newcastle University Business School, UK (View Profile)
Martha Maznevski, Western University, Canada (View Profile)

This track covers global talent management, cross-cultural leadership, multicultural teams, and international HR activities. It includes recruitment, training, performance management, compensation, and leadership development.

Keywords: Organizational change; Cross-cultural management; Global leadership; Expatriate management; Talent management; Performance appraisal; Global staffing; Cultural diversity; Virtual teams; Intercultural competence; International migration; Work-family issues; Hybrid and remote working; Digital HRM.

7. Gender and diversity

Track Co-Chairs:
Naomi Gardberg, City University of New York, USA (View Profile)
Matt Raskovic, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand (View Profile)

This track explores diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) across all aspects and levels of international business. It covers gender, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, neurodiversity, ancestry/origin and other social identities, as well as their intersectionality. It addresses both social justice and business performance perspectives, paying particular attention to underlying power dynamics and issues regarding structural inequality and inequity.

Keywords: Diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); Social identity; Discrimination; Representation; Advocacy; Gender equality; Intersectionality; LGBTQIA+; Neurodiversity; Ageism; Decolonization.

8. Teaching and education

Track Co-Chairs:
Andreas Schotter, Western University, Canada (View Profile)
Melodena Stephens, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Dubai (View Profile)

This track promotes best practices in teaching international business (IB) education at all levels. It focuses on innovative teaching methods, curriculum design, student engagement, pedagogy, and the use of digital tools to enhance learning.

Keywords: Experiential Learning; IB curriculum; Cross-cultural Teaching; Case Teaching; Executive Education; Simulations; Blended Learning; Hybrid Teaching; Multimedia or AI Experiential Learning.

9. Research methods and theorizing

Track Co-Chairs:
Thomas Greckhamer, Louisiana State University, USA (View Profile)
Nicole Richter, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark (View Profile)

This track highlights advanced research methods and theorizing approaches in international business. It encourages innovative methodologies, interdisciplinary research, and context-sensitive theories.

Keywords: Research methodology; Mixed methods; Qualitative research; Quantitative research; Case study; Ethnography; Surveys; Experiments; Meta-analysis; Machine learning; Natural language processing; Longitudinal research.

10. Emerging markets and emerging market MNEs

Track Co-Chairs:
Ilgaz Arikan, Kent State University, USA (View Profile)
Snehal Awate, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India (View Profile)

This track explores the dynamics of emerging markets and the strategies of emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs). It covers innovation, sustainable development, and market/non-market strategies of emerging market MNEs.

Keywords: Emerging market MNEs; Economic development; Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP); State-owned enterprises; Innovation; Reverse innovation; Corporate social responsibility; Internationalization strategies; Sustainability; Global risks.

11. MNE-state relations and international business policy

Track Co-Chairs:
Andrew Spicer, University of South Carolina, USA (View Profile)
Roseline Wanjiru, Northumbria University, UK (View Profile)

This track examines the interactions between multinational enterprises (MNEs), governments, and society. It focuses on non-market strategies, geopolitical risks, social challenges, and the impact of tariffs and subsidies, industrial policy, trade policy and regulation.

Keywords: Institutional environment; Political strategies; Corporate diplomacy; Social sustainability; Trade agreements; Protectionism; Global governance; Migration; Social movements; Geopolitics; Corruption; Conflict; Non-market Strategies.

12. Sustainability in International Business

Track Co-Chairs:
Valentina Marano, Northeastern University, USA (View Profile)
Noemi Sinkovics, Newcastle University, UK (View Profile)

This track addresses how international businesses engage with sustainability challenges like climate change, poverty, and inequality. It explores sustainable development goals, stakeholder engagement, and corporate social responsibility.

Keywords: Sustainable development goals (SDGs); Global value chains; Corporate social responsibility (CSR); Circular economy; Climate change; Green development; Social innovation; Human rights; Green innovation; Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSiR); Greenwashing; Sustainability Reporting; Responsible business; Ethical Trade.

All submissions must be made through AIB’s online submission system by January 10, 2025.

The submission system will open November 1, 2024. Please refer to the AIB 2025 Submission Guide for information on how to prepare and submit your work. All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer-review process.

We hope you will submit your best work and join us at the AIB 2025 Annual Meeting as we strive to make international business scholarship a driving force for positive change in the world!