Call for Papers
Click to download PDF of Call for Papers

Submission Deadline: December 13, 2010

We cordially invite submissions of individual papers and panels of papers for the 2011 Industry Studies Conference, to be held on May 31-June 3, at the William Pitt Union at the University of Pittsburgh. The field of industry studies includes research on industries and non-profit activities as well as cross-industry analysis. It draws on a wide range of academic disciplines and fields, including economics and other social sciences, management, operations research, engineering, labor markets and employment relations, and other related research and policy areas.

Industry studies research is grounded in observation of firms and workplaces and in a deep understanding of the markets and institutions that shape the competitive environment. We welcome research of all kinds that incorporates this approach. The Program Committee seeks papers and panels that would not typically be found in methodology-focused or single-discipline conferences, and is especially interested in attracting papers that are unique in their emphasis on observation and insight into a particular industry, or that consider how knowledge gained in studying one industry can provide insights into other industries.

The conference program will include competitively selected panels and individual papers. The program also will feature a pre-conference workshop for junior faculty, plenary sessions, and an awards luncheon.

Submission Process

Researchers may submit 150-word abstracts for single papers. Accepted papers will be assigned to sessions by the Program Committee. We also encourage researchers to propose panels comprising multiple papers on a common theme (e.g., using one methodology across multiple industries, or multiple diverse approaches to a common problem in a single industry). Submissions should be made online by clicking on the "Abstract Submission" link above.  The deadline for abstract submissions is December 13, 2011.

The Program Committee has developed topical research streams to organize the submission process, and we encourage researchers to match their abstracts to streams that reflect their research. However, the streams are not meant to be exhaustive, and the committee also welcomes submissions in the “General Industry Studies” category.

Research streams:
General Industry Studies (Coordinators: Rafiq Dossani & Chip Hunter)
Energy, Power, & Sustainability (Coordinator: Edward Anderson)
Globalization (Coordinator: Jason Dedrick)
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Coordinator: Sheryl Winston Smith)
Labor Markets, Organizations, and Employment Relations (Coordinator: Peter Berg)
Transportation & Logistics (Coordinator: Amy Cohn)

Proposals for Individual Papers: The on-line submission procedure for individual papers will require a title and an abstract of no more than 150 words. The abstract should include a description of the central research question(s), methods, and key findings. Key data sources should be highlighted in the abstract, including, where applicable, the observational basis of the research (e.g., field-based interviews, site visits, participant observation, surveys, archival data collection). Researchers should also supply names and basic contact information for co-authors.

Proposals for Panels: The on-line submission procedure for panel proposals will require the chair of the proposed panel to submit a panel title and abstract. The abstract should include names of paper authors (up to 4 papers per session) along with their email addresses. The abstract should also describe the overall theme and format of the panel. In addition to the panel abstract, panel organizers may submit an optional extended abstract that addresses the suitability of the panel specifically for the industry studies conference. The individual researchers on proposed panels should submit their individual abstracts in the same fashion as those who are submitting individual papers (above). Panel organizers should also supply names and basic contact information for any panel co-chairs.

Notification of acceptance of submissions will be made by January 31, 2011. Authors will be asked to submit their papers and presentations to the website by May 2, 2011, and the papers may be invited for publication in the Industry Studies Working Paper Series.
 
The conference is open to all researchers. A discounted conference registration fee will be charged to members of the Industry Studies Association (to become a member, please visit www.industrystudies.org).

The conference web site will be updated regularly as more information about the conference becomes available. Please feel free to contact the Conference Program Co-Chairs, Chip Hunter Lhunter@bus.wisc.edu or Rafiq Dossani Dossani1@stanford.edu, with related questions.
 

2011 Program Committee

Chip Hunter, Co-Chair, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Rafiq Dossani, Co-Chair, Stanford University
Edward Anderson, University of Texas-Austin
Peter Berg, Michigan State University
Amy Cohn, University of Michigan
Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University
Gail Pesyna, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Sheryl Winston Smith, Temple University