Colleagues,
This seems to be generating a lot of strong feelings. There is a sense that Yehuda (who I know in general to be a thoughtful man though of sometimes strong views) and Kyle who I know not at all but is clearly a rather new member of our community, have been discourteous. It is well known that this easily happens in an electronic milieu which provides for both social distancing and rapid or even impulsive communication. I am sure many of us have sent emails or posted messages that we later regretted.
I am sure that the doctoral consortium will be interesting and valuable and that we should value the expertise and commitment of those who are running it.
However the intensity of the discussion generated suggests to me that there may be an elephant in the room.
Perhaps the elephant is concern about how genuinely international is the AoM or perhaps to what extent it represents US hegemony in the area of management research and education. My own sense is that the AoM (not least through IMD) has made commendable moves in the direction of internationalisation. However, the present stage of development seems to be one where colleagues from outside the US are welcome guests rather than one where the AoM is yet a genuinely international organisation. It is perhaps unsurprising that most of the 'top' journals in the field are US. It is a country with enormous resources devoted to scholarship, and a generous attitude to supporting scholarship beyond its borders.
However this echoes an economic and military dominance in the world at a time when the current US government is self-avowedly seeking to impose a particular political ideology and a vision of an international order across the world (aided of course by the UK).
Most business schools internationally are very influenced by US models of effective business and management practice not least because of the significant number of scholars who gained their PhDs (and academic networks) from US schools and the international influence of US MNCs. Publishing in top US journals is of course much easier if you learn the rules of the game in the US. There are benefits from this as many of us (outside the US) have been able to hitch a ride on bodies of US research which have benefited from some extraordinarily high standards of scholarship and which have been supported by significant resources. Nonetheless, it creates dangers too.
Perhaps this is the debate we should be having.
Mark
Prof. Mark Fenton-O'Creevy
Director, Centre for Practice Based Professional Learning
& Professor of Organisational Behaviour
Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
United Kingdom
e-mail:
m.p.fenton-ocreevy@open.ac.uk
(DL) +44 (0)1908-655804
Fax: +44 (0)1908-655898
Web : cetl.open.ac.uk/pbpl
________________________________
From: International Management Division Discussion on behalf of Mustafa Ozbilgin
Sent: Sat 06/05/2006 01:05
To:
IMD-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: Response to concerns over USAers on IM Division Consortium panel
Dear Colleagues,
I think we need a more balanced argument here.
I believe that it is important not only to be international but also appear
to be international. It would not take more than a short statement by the
organisers to explain what makes the group 'international'.
Lest I get blamed of failing to read 'international' journals, I will not
dare to ask in which country 'international' journals are located and in
what language they are.
Although sufficient evidence provided to demonstrate that participants of
this particular organisation have an international flavour, I find it
refreshing to see that some of us are finding the personal courage to
problematise the claims of 'international'. In our time of political
manouvering to curb academic right to free association, I think that any
voice of dissent is better than none.
All good wishes,
Mustafa Ozbilgin
--
Dr Mustafa F. Ozbilgin
Editor, Equal Opportunities International
Centre for Research in Equality and Diversity
School of Business and Management
Queen Mary, University of London
E1 4NS, London, UK
Web:
http://www.busman.qmul.ac.uk/staff/Ozbilgin.shtml
Direct Line: +442078827014
Mobile: +447967105959
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bird, Allan" <
abird@UMSL.EDU>
To: <
IMD-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 11:27 PM
Subject: Re: Response to concerns over USAers on IM Division Consortium
panel
One of the challenges of working effectively in a global context is to avoid
stereotyping. Another challenge is to engage in mindful communication that
is constructive and demonstrates respect for others.
A common stereotype of Americans is that they "shoot from the hip" or that
they "shoot first and ask questions later." My experience has been that
this is not a characteristic unique to Americans.
I would also note that my experience working in numerous countries and
across five continents has been that there are few cultures where public
derision of others or of programs is viewed as the most appropriate method
for effecting positive change in an organization. Although I cannot speak
for them, I would be surprised if the IMD Executive Committee would not
welcome positive input directed at improving IMD activities.
=========
Allan Bird, Ph.D.
Eiichi Shibusawa-Seigo Arai Professor
of Japanese Studies
Director, International Business Institute
College of Business Administration &
Center for International Studies
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Tel: 1-314-516-6286
Fax: 1-314-516-6420
-----Original Message-----
From: International Management Division Discussion on behalf of Anand, Vikas
Sent: Fri 5/5/2006 1:06 PM
To:
IMD-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: Response to concerns over USAers on IM Division Consortium
panel
Hi Charles: Appreciate your response to this message. I wanted to
preface my comments by stating that while I work in the US now, I've
grown up outside the US, obtained three degrees and worked outside the
US, and done research outside the US -- so should not be considered a
dyed in the wool USAer.
I personally know several of the IMD panelists. Apart from the
connections that you highlighted, Mary Zellmer has taught several times
in Germany, and has been involved (as has Cris) in several data
collection efforts outside the US. This is an outstanding panel and
having been part of programs in the past where some of these panel
members were involved, I cannot imagine them providing anything other
than an outstanding workshop that will certainly bring a global
perspective to participants. It is challenging to get qualified people
to volunteer and organize such workshops and careless comments can make
it even harder.
Vikas Anand
479-575-6232
-----Original Message-----
From: International Management Division Discussion
[mailto:
IMD-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Charles Wankel
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 12:10 PM
To:
IMD-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: Response to concerns over USAers on IM Division Consortium
panel
Kyle
I see you are a student in Missouri:
http://organizations.missouristate.edu/ioclub/membership.htm
Even so it is perplexing to have you and Yehuda decry the volunteers
running
the consortium as too parochially USA to be effective. Seemingly
Subramanian Rangan's INSEAD affiliation makes him acceptable to you
both.
You might therefore consider that Mary Yoko Brannen's home page notes
she is
at INSEAD this year too:
http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/branne_m/
Myles Shaver and Heather Berry both have their first degrees from Canada
and
Heather has her second one from Scotland. I consider Cristina Gibson's
work
with the European Economic Community Intelligent Interfaces Initiative
etc.
to make her situation somewhat less dyed-in-the-wool USA too.
As a member of the Academy of Management International Themes Committee
I
fully understand the interest of many from outside the USA to make the
AOM
less dominated by USAers. However, I suggest that this is better done
without reference to particular individuals and their session who
actually
might be more "international" than quick guesses might suggest.
Though I have lived and worked at European universities a few times, I
am
from the USA and therefore felt that filtering these two messages might
be
inappropriate. But I did think some response was needed because of the
ad
hominem dimension of this.
Cybercollegially,
Charles Wankel
AMInt-L List Director; IMD-L List Director
St. John's University, New York
(Actually teaching MBA students in Rome, Italy, this term online from
New
York)
-----Original Message-----
From: International Themes Division Discussion
[mailto:
AMINT-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Wilberding, Kyle W
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 8:13 AM
To:
AMINT-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: [AMINT-L] AOM IMD Doctoral Student Consortium 2006 -
Application deadline extended to May 15
Yeah, lets cancel this years consortium. I very much doubt the ability
of
these panelist to understand international topics and I am sure the
organizer excluded all international students from participating. VERY
INTERESTING INDEED!
Please, lets not have an emic and etic debate.
Kyle Wilberding
________________________________
From: International Themes Division Discussion on behalf of Baruch
Yehuda
Prof (MGT) mg503
Sent: Thu 5/4/2006 11:12 AM
To:
AMINT-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: Re: AOM IMD Doctoral Student Consortium 2006 - Application
deadline
extended to May 15
Hi,
Highly interesting - very international, with the Organizer and five of
the
six panelists from the USA.
Enjoy
Yours
Yehuda
Professor Yehuda Baruch
Norwich Business School
UEA, Norwich, NR4 7TJ
Editor, Career Development International
Past Chair, The Careers Division, The Academy of Management
tel: +44(0)1603-593341
fax: +44(0)1603-593343
________________________________
From: International Themes Division Discussion
[mailto:
AMINT-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Chei Hwee CHUA (U. of
South
Carolina)
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 3:53 PM
To:
AMINT-L@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: AOM IMD Doctoral Student Consortium 2006 - Application
deadline extended to May 15
INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION DOCTORAL STUDENT CONSORTIUM
2006 Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia
August 12, 2006
APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: May 15, 2006
The International Management Division will hold a doctoral
consortium at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management in
Atlanta. It will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2006 from 8.30 am -
5.00pm
at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis hotel.
This doctoral consortium is for advanced doctoral students
interested in international management research. The consortium will
provide
opportunity for structured discussion and informal interaction between
doctoral students and faculty panelists on the themes of research,
thesis
writing and career development. One session will be devoted to thesis
development where participants will have an opportunity to present and
discuss their research in small groups. There will also be a session
where
participants get to meet the editors of leading journals in the field of
international management.
The doctoral consortium will be organized by Mary Zellmer-Bruhn
(U.
of Minnesota).
The faculty panelists will be:
* J. Myles Shaver (U. of Minnesota)
* Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra (U. of South Carolina)
* Cristina Gibson (U. of California, Irvine)
* Mary Yoko Brannen (San Jose State U.)
* Subramanian Rangan (INSEAD)
* Heather Berry (U. of Pennsylvania).
Doctoral students must be in the dissertation stage of their PhD
program.
Interested students should email Mary Zellmer-Bruhn at
mzellmer-bruhn@csom.umn.edu with a nomination letter from advisor, 1-pg
CV
and 1-pg description of dissertation. The deadline for application has
been
extended to May 15, 2006.
Mary Zellmer-Bruhn
University of Minnesota
Carlson School of Management
Strategic Management & Organization Department
321 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-2342